Best Life Index › States › California › Cities › Bakersfield

California city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Bakersfield?

What it costs to live in Bakersfield, and how it compares with other California cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

57

129th best value in California

How much you get for what you pay, versus other California cities.

Overall livability

49

208th overall in California

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Bakersfield is home to about 398,756 people. A typical home runs $272,000 and a household earns around $69,000, a price-to-income ratio of 3.9. Among California's largest cities, it ranks 129th for value and 208th overall.

Bakersfield at a glance

Median home price

$272,000

18th in CA of 406

Median rent

$1,177/mo

Median household income

$69,000

Home price to income

3.9x

Unemployment

7.5%

296th in CA of 406

School rating

6/10

254th in CA of 406

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CA of 406

Walk score

49/100

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‹ See all top California cities ranked  ยท  California state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within California only. Updated 2026.