Rankings · How Bakersfield ranks in CA
Bakersfield ranks #89 in California for growth
Bakersfield is ranked on 34 lists against the 844 California towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 0 and the top quarter on 5.
Lists ranked on
34
of CA’s 844 ranked towns
Top-10 finishes
0
Best: #89 fastest growing
Top-quarter finishes
5
of 23 lists where higher is better
Strongest area
Growth
Top 11% on average
★ What stands out · Where it shines
The lists Bakersfield does best on
Each list ranks every CA town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with Bakersfield marked.
At a glance
Bakersfield lands in the top half on 8 of 23 lists
Each dot is Bakersfield’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in CA, the right end is last. Areas where Bakersfield does best come first.
Top 10%Top halfBottom half
Cost of livingHousing →
Most affordable#170/835Cheapest rent#195/830Lowest property tax#294/835Rent easiest to afford#234/422 Getting aroundWork & commute →
Shortest commute#201/843 HousingHousing →
Most new homes#107/438 People
Most educated#518/844 HealthHealth →
Fewest smokers#530/844Lowest depression#568/844Fewest uninsured#621/844Most active#624/844Healthiest#629/844Lowest obesity#666/844Closest to a top hospital#816/844 SafetySafety →
Safest#366/411 What kind of place
Hotter summers than 94% of California
Not better or worse, just Bakersfield’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
Hotter summers than 94% of CA towns
Cooler summersHotter summers
99.1° July high
Drier than 92% of CA towns
DrierWetter
7.1 in of rain + melted snow a year
Younger than 87% of CA towns
YoungerOlder
32.1 median age
More kids than 87% of CA towns
Fewer kidsMore kids
29.2% of residents are under 18
Faster-rising prices than 81% of CA towns
Steadier pricesPrices rising fast
+53.9% in home prices, 5 years
Fewer seniors than 80% of CA towns
Fewer seniorsMore seniors
11.3% of residents are 65+
Fewer homes per newcomer than 60% of CA towns
Homes keep paceShort on homes
4.3 new residents for each new home, 2010–20
More vacation homes than 57% of CA towns
Year-roundVacation homes
0.8% of homes are seasonal
Milder winters than 51% of CA towns
Colder wintersMilder winters
40.1° January low
Next door
Bakersfield out-ranks 5 of its 8 ranked neighbors
Head to head on the lists where both towns are ranked: a point for each list where one town places higher. Tap a town for its own rankings.