Bakersfield, CA
Census place 0603526 · pop 411,986
Birthplace of the twangy 'Bakersfield Sound' country music pioneered by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
8.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
94 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
72 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
557 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.6% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
15.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2489 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
29.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
16.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
23.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$371,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,957/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.45 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
60.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
13.4% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.97% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
34.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$80,540 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
94.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+9.0% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Frequently asked
- Is Bakersfield, CA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Bakersfield scores 29/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is unemployment rate. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Bakersfield, CA?
- Bakersfield reports 557 violent crimes per 100k and 2489 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Bakersfield, CA expensive to live in?
- Bakersfield has a median home value of $371,700 and typical rent around $1,957/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Bakersfield, CA?
- Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (8.3%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Bakersfield, CA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+9.0%) — 78/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Birthplace of the twangy 'Bakersfield Sound' country music pioneered by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.