City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Philadelphia and Bakersfield. Philadelphia averages 54°F while Bakersfield averages 73°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,397 versus $1,472.
Bakersfield is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia 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 crime gap is citywide. Bakersfield has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Bakersfield are 2,395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, up $75 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $80,540 in Bakersfield, up $18,587 (30%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 148 in Bakersfield, down 113 points (43%).
The move
Bakersfield and Philadelphia are 2,395 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $75 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $18,587 (23%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 261 in Philadelphia, up 113 points (76%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 5% cheaper than Bakersfield
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Bakersfield
$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,472 in Bakersfield, so Philadelphia is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $75, or $900 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
30% higher
Bakersfield's median income is 30% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Bakersfield
Winner$80,540
Median household income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Bakersfield (about $18,587 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. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
43% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 43% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
45% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 45% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Bakersfield
Winner73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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 45% 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia 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 30% 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 43% lower than Philadelphia (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
Safety is the widest gap: Bakersfield scores 48/100 versus 31/100 in Philadelphia. Rent is $1,472/month in Bakersfield and $1,397/month in Philadelphia, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (48/100 in Bakersfield vs 31/100 in Philadelphia), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $80,540 in Bakersfield versus $61,953 in Philadelphia.
Between Philadelphia and Bakersfield, Bakersfield is ahead on safety — 48/100 safety versus 31/100. Lean Philadelphia instead when you already know the Philadelphia block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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