City comparison
Virginia Beach is safer than Bakersfield. Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 148 in Bakersfield, and its violent crime index is 29 versus 152, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Bakersfield is cheaper. Median rent is $1,472 a month versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach.
Safety is where Virginia Beach and Bakersfield split most clearly. Virginia Beach scores 86 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,714 in Virginia Beach and $1,472 in Bakersfield.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Bakersfield costs less and Virginia Beach pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Virginia Beach has rougher pockets and Bakersfield has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Virginia Beach and Bakersfield are 2,384 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach to $1,472 a month in Bakersfield, down $242 a month (14%).
Median household income goes from $92,968 in Virginia Beach to $80,540 in Bakersfield, down $12,428 (13%).
The crime index goes from 62 in Virginia Beach to 148 in Bakersfield, up 86 points (139%).
The move
Bakersfield and Virginia Beach are 2,384 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,472 a month in Bakersfield to $1,714 a month in Virginia Beach, up $242 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $80,540 in Bakersfield to $92,968 in Virginia Beach, up $12,428 (15%).
The crime index goes from 148 in Bakersfield to 62 in Virginia Beach, down 86 points (58%).
Virginia Beach, VA
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 Virginia Beach and Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
14% cheaper
Bakersfield rent is 14% cheaper than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
$1,714/mo
Bakersfield
Winner$1,472/mo
Typical rent runs $1,472 a month in Bakersfield versus $1,714 in Virginia Beach, so Bakersfield is 14% 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 $2,904, 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 Virginia Beach.
Planning to buy in Bakersfield? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
15% higher
Virginia Beach's median income is 15% higher than Bakersfield
Virginia Beach
Winner$92,968
Bakersfield
$80,540
Median household income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $80,540 in Bakersfield, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Virginia Beach (about $12,428 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, Virginia Beach is the stronger labor market on paper. Bakersfield can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
58% lower crime
Virginia Beach's crime index is 58% lower than Bakersfield
Virginia Beach
Winner62 (100 = avg)
Bakersfield
148 (100 = avg)
Virginia Beach's crime index is 62 versus 148 in Bakersfield (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 58% lower in Virginia Beach. 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, Virginia Beach is the easier city. Bakersfield can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
6% more comfortable
Bakersfield weather is 6% more comfortable than Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach
63°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 94/100
Bakersfield
Winner72°F avg · 87°F highs · comfort 100/100
Virginia Beach averages about 63°F (67°F highs); Bakersfield averages about 72°F (87°F highs). Virginia Beach averages around 63°F. Bakersfield sits near 72°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Bakersfield scores 6% 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 Virginia Beach 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
Virginia Beach is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 15% higher here ($92,968). Start with Virginia Beach if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Virginia Beach is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 58% lower than Bakersfield (62 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.
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 14% 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 (72°F) beat Virginia Beach on this page's weather index by 6%. Virginia Beach may pay more or cost less, but Bakersfield is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: Virginia Beach scores 75/100 versus 48/100 in Bakersfield. Rent is $1,714/month in Virginia Beach and $1,472/month in Bakersfield, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Virginia Beach still pays more locally ($92,968 median income vs $80,540), which can offset the lease if your field pays Virginia Beach rates.
Median income is $92,968 in Virginia Beach versus $80,540 in Bakersfield.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Virginia Beach; Bakersfield only makes sense when you have walked the Bakersfield ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,472 rent.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Virginia Beach and Bakersfield, plus other cities in VA and CA.
