City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 174 in Phoenix, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 216, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,582 in Phoenix.
Phoenix 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 $1,582 in Phoenix and $1,472 in Bakersfield, and median household income lands at $81,332 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 cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Phoenix 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
Phoenix and Bakersfield are 417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,582 a month in Phoenix to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $110 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $81,332 in Phoenix to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $792 (1%).
The crime index goes from 174 in Phoenix to 148 in Bakersfield, down 26 points (15%).
The move
Bakersfield and Phoenix are 417 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,582 a month in Phoenix, up $110 a month (7%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $81,332 in Phoenix, up $792 (1%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 174 in Phoenix, up 26 points (18%).
Phoenix, AZ
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 Phoenix and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
7% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 7% cheaper than Phoenix
Phoenix
$1,582/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,582 in Phoenix, so Bakersfield is 7% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $110, or $1,320 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
1% higher
Phoenix's median income is 1% higher than Bakersfield
Phoenix
Winner$81,332
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $81,332 in Phoenix versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 1% higher in Phoenix (about $792 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
15% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 15% lower than Phoenix
Phoenix
174 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 174 in Phoenix (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 15% 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 Phoenix. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
3% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 3% more comfortable than Phoenix
Phoenix
81°F avg · 88°F highs · comfort 97/100
Bakersfield
Winner74°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Phoenix averages about 81°F (88°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 74°F (87°F highs). Phoenix averages around 81°F. Bakersfield sits near 74°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 Phoenix 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
Phoenix is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 1% higher here ($81,332). Start with Phoenix 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
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 7% cheaper here at about $1,472 a month. Choose Bakersfield if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick Bakersfield if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Phoenix on this page's weather index by 3%. Phoenix 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 15% lower than Phoenix (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 43/100 in Phoenix). Typical rent is $1,472 in Bakersfield and $1,582 in Phoenix; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
With only $110 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 81°F in Phoenix and 74°F in Bakersfield.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Bakersfield; Phoenix only makes sense when you have walked the Phoenix ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,582 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Phoenix and Bakersfield, plus other cities in AZ and CA.
