City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 303 in Minneapolis, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 314, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Minneapolis is cheaper. Median rent is $1,371 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Safety is where Minneapolis and Bakersfield split most clearly. Bakersfield scores 155 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Minneapolis is the easier city on typical rent, but Bakersfield can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and Minneapolis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Minneapolis and Bakersfield are 1,504 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,371 a month in Minneapolis to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $101 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $80,846 in Minneapolis to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $306 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 303 in Minneapolis to 148 in Bakersfield, down 155 points (51%).
The move
Bakersfield and Minneapolis are 1,504 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,371 a month in Minneapolis, down $101 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $80,846 in Minneapolis, up $306 (under 1%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 303 in Minneapolis, up 155 points (105%).
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minneapolis and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Minneapolis rent is 7% cheaper than Bakersfield
Minneapolis
Winner$1,371/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,371 a month in Minneapolis versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Minneapolis is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $101, or $1,212 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 Minneapolis? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
1% higher
Minneapolis's median income is 1% higher than Bakersfield
Minneapolis
Winner$80,846
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $80,846 in Minneapolis versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Minneapolis (about $306 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
51% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 51% lower than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
303 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 303 in Minneapolis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 51% 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. Minneapolis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 39% more comfortable than Minneapolis
Minneapolis
55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Minneapolis averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Minneapolis averages around 55°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 39% 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 Minneapolis if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Minneapolis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,371 a month. Choose Minneapolis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Minneapolis is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($80,846). Start with Minneapolis if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Bakersfield if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (73°F) beat Minneapolis on this page's weather index by 39%. Minneapolis may pay more or cost less, but Bakersfield is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 51% lower than Minneapolis (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 26/100 in Minneapolis). Typical rent is $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,371 in Minneapolis; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Bakersfield vs 26/100 in Minneapolis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,371 in Minneapolis and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Bakersfield; Minneapolis only makes sense when you have walked the Minneapolis ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,371 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Minneapolis and Bakersfield, plus other cities in MN and CA.
