City comparison
No. Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 181 in Sacramento, and its violent crime index is 152 versus 213, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,779 in Sacramento.
Sacramento 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 $1,779 in Sacramento and $1,472 in Bakersfield, and median household income lands at $87,321 versus $80,540. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Sacramento wins on the job market and Bakersfield wins on cost of living and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Bakersfield at $1,472 average has pockets that run $1,272 and others at $1,872: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Sacramento and Bakersfield are 260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,779 a month in Sacramento to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $307 a month (17%).
Median household income goes from $87,321 in Sacramento to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $6,781 (8%).
The crime index goes from 181 in Sacramento to 148 in Bakersfield, down 33 points (18%).
The move
Bakersfield and Sacramento are 260 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,779 a month in Sacramento, up $307 a month (21%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $87,321 in Sacramento, up $6,781 (8%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 181 in Sacramento, up 33 points (22%).
Sacramento, CA
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 Sacramento and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
17% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 17% cheaper than Sacramento
Sacramento
$1,779/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,779 in Sacramento, so Bakersfield is 17% 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 $3,684, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Bakersfield still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Sacramento.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
8% higher
Sacramento's median income is 8% higher than Bakersfield
Sacramento
Winner$87,321
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 8% higher in Sacramento (about $6,781 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
18% lower crime
Bakersfield's crime index is 18% lower than Sacramento
Sacramento
181 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
Winner148 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield's crime index is 148 versus 181 in Sacramento (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% 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. Sacramento can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Sacramento and Bakersfield are about even on typical weather.
Sacramento
71°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Bakersfield
73°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Sacramento averages about 71°F (83°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 73°F (87°F highs). Sacramento sits near 71°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. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Sacramento is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 8% higher here ($87,321). Start with Sacramento if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Bakersfield is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 17% 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.
Bakersfield is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Sacramento (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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,472/month in Bakersfield versus $1,779 in Sacramento. Median income reads $80,540 in Bakersfield and $87,321 in Sacramento, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Bakersfield rent at $1,472/month is still below Sacramento's $1,779, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $87,321 in Sacramento versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Bakersfield clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Sacramento deserves a serious look only when your $87,321 income offer in Sacramento outweighs saving $307/month in Bakersfield.
Common questions
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