City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 216 in Indianapolis, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 246, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Indianapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,156 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Indianapolis and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 68 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,156 in Indianapolis and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Indianapolis makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Bakersfield is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Indianapolis at $1,156 average has pockets that run $956 and others at $1,556: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Indianapolis and Bakersfield are 1,815 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,156 a month in Indianapolis to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $316 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $66,219 in Indianapolis to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $14,321 (22%).
The crime index goes from 216 in Indianapolis to 148 in Bakersfield, down 68 points (31%).
The move
Bakersfield and Indianapolis are 1,815 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,156 a month in Indianapolis, down $316 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $66,219 in Indianapolis, down $14,321 (18%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 216 in Indianapolis, up 68 points (46%).
Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
21% cheaper
Indianapolis rent is 21% cheaper than Bakersfield
Indianapolis
Winner$1,156/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,156 a month in Indianapolis versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Indianapolis is 21% cheaper. That's roughly $316/month back in your pocket ($3,792/year). Over five years that's $18,960 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Bakersfield, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Indianapolis is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
22% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 22% higher than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
$66,219
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $66,219 in Indianapolis, so typical pay runs 22% higher in Bakersfield (about $14,321 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. Indianapolis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
31% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 31% lower than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
216 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 216 in Indianapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 31% 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. Indianapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 28% more comfortable than Indianapolis
Indianapolis
57°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 78/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Indianapolis averages about 57°F (66°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Indianapolis averages around 57°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Indianapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 21% cheaper here at about $1,156 a month. Choose Indianapolis 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 plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 22% higher ($80,540), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 73°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 31% lower than Indianapolis (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 37/100 in Indianapolis). Typical rent is $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,156 in Indianapolis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Bakersfield still pays more locally ($80,540 median income vs $66,219), which can offset the lease if your field pays Bakersfield rates.
Weather averages land near 57°F in Indianapolis and 73°F in Bakersfield.
Between Indianapolis and Bakersfield, Bakersfield is ahead on safety — 48/100 safety versus 37/100. Lean Indianapolis instead when you already know the Indianapolis block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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