City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 150 in Jacksonville, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 155, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Jacksonville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,465 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Jacksonville and Bakersfield are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,465 in Jacksonville and $1,472 in Bakersfield, and median household income lands at $69,872 versus $80,540. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Jacksonville 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.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Jacksonville and Bakersfield are 2,183 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,465 a month in Jacksonville to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $69,872 in Jacksonville to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $10,668 (15%).
The crime index goes from 150 in Jacksonville to 148 in Bakersfield, down 2 points (1%).
The move
Bakersfield and Jacksonville are 2,183 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,465 a month in Jacksonville, down $7 a month (under 1%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $69,872 in Jacksonville, down $10,668 (13%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 150 in Jacksonville, up 2 points (1%).
Jacksonville, FL
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 Jacksonville and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Jacksonville rent is 1% cheaper than Bakersfield
Jacksonville
Winner$1,465/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,465 a month in Jacksonville versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Jacksonville is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 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
15% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 15% higher than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
$69,872
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $69,872 in Jacksonville, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Bakersfield (about $10,668 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. Jacksonville can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
1% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 1% lower than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
150 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 150 in Jacksonville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Bakersfield. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Bakersfield, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Jacksonville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
2% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 2% more comfortable than Jacksonville
Jacksonville
73°F avg · 80°F highs · comfort 98/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Jacksonville averages about 73°F (80°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Jacksonville sits near 73°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. Bakersfield scores 2% 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 Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville
Jacksonville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,465 a month. Choose Jacksonville 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 15% 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 1% lower than Jacksonville (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
This pair is really a paycheck comparison: Bakersfield at $80,540 median income versus $69,872 in Jacksonville. Housing ($1,465 in Jacksonville, $1,472 in Bakersfield) is secondary unless you are rent-burdened already.
Safety scores read 48/100 in Jacksonville and 48/100 in Bakersfield.
If local pay drives your move, Bakersfield is the stronger match ($80,540 median income against $69,872). If an employer or family tie already points to Jacksonville, treat $1,465/month rent and $69,872 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Weather averages land near 73°F in Jacksonville and 73°F in Bakersfield.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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