City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 495 in Memphis, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 629, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Memphis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,181 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Memphis and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 347 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,181 in Memphis 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. Memphis 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. Memphis at $1,181 average has pockets that run $981 and others at $1,581: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Memphis and Bakersfield are 1,629 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,181 a month in Memphis to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $291 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $51,736 in Memphis to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $28,804 (56%).
The crime index goes from 495 in Memphis to 148 in Bakersfield, down 347 points (70%).
The move
Bakersfield and Memphis are 1,629 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,181 a month in Memphis, down $291 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $51,736 in Memphis, down $28,804 (36%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 495 in Memphis, up 347 points (234%).
Memphis, TN
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 Memphis and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Memphis rent is 20% cheaper than Bakersfield
Memphis
Winner$1,181/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,181 a month in Memphis versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Memphis is 20% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,492, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Memphis still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Bakersfield.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
56% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 56% higher than Memphis
Memphis
$51,736
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $51,736 in Memphis, so typical pay runs 56% higher in Bakersfield (about $28,804 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. Memphis can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
70% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 70% lower than Memphis
Memphis
495 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 495 in Memphis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 70% 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. Memphis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 3% more comfortable than Memphis
Memphis
64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Memphis averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Memphis averages around 64°F. Bakersfield sits near 73°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield scores 3% 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 Memphis 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 Memphis
Memphis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 20% cheaper here at about $1,181 a month. Choose Memphis 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 56% 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 70% lower than Memphis (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Bakersfield: Bakersfield scores 48/100 versus 11/100 in Memphis, with typical rent at $1,472 versus $1,181. I would vet the exact ZIP in Memphis before trading 37 safety points for housing savings.
Memphis rent at $1,181/month is still below Bakersfield's $1,472, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,181 in Memphis and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
If safety drives your move, Bakersfield is the stronger match (48/100 safety versus 11/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Memphis, treat $1,181/month rent and $51,736 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
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