City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 270 in Houston, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 294, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Houston is cheaper. Median rent is $1,361 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Houston and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 122 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,361 in Houston and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
This is a genuine split. Houston wins on cost of living and Bakersfield wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The crime gap is citywide. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and Houston has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Houston and Bakersfield are 1,427 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,361 a month in Houston to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $111 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $64,813 in Houston to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $15,727 (24%).
The crime index goes from 270 in Houston to 148 in Bakersfield, down 122 points (45%).
The move
Bakersfield and Houston are 1,427 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,361 a month in Houston, down $111 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $64,813 in Houston, down $15,727 (20%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 270 in Houston, up 122 points (82%).
Houston, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Bakersfield, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Houston and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Houston rent is 8% cheaper than Bakersfield
Houston
Winner$1,361/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,361 a month in Houston versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Houston is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $111, or $1,332 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
24% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 24% higher than Houston
Houston
$64,813
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $64,813 in Houston, so typical pay runs 24% higher in Bakersfield (about $15,727 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Bakersfield is the stronger labor market on paper. Houston can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
45% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 45% lower than Houston
Houston
270 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 270 in Houston (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in Bakersfield. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Bakersfield is the easier city. Houston can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Houston and Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
Houston
70°F avg · 78°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Houston averages about 70°F (78°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Houston sits near 70°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Houston
Houston is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% cheaper here at about $1,361 a month. Choose Houston if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Bakersfield is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 24% higher here ($80,540). Start with Bakersfield if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Houston (148 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Bakersfield leads on safety (48/100 vs 30/100 in Houston). Typical rent is $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,361 in Houston; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Houston rent at $1,361/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,361 in Houston and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Between Houston and Bakersfield, Bakersfield is ahead on safety — 48/100 safety versus 30/100. Lean Houston instead when you already know the Houston block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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