Bakersfield CA vs Bismarck ND — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Bakersfield, CA
California · Population: 408,366
- Median HH Income$77,397
- Median Home Price$396,712
- Unemployment7.0%
- Bachelor's+23.3%
Bismarck, ND
North Dakota · Population: 74,146
- Median HH Income$77,608
- Median Home Price$373,227
- Unemployment3.6%
- Bachelor's+38.7%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Bakersfield
408,366
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
74,146
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bakersfield
N/A
Bismarck
N/A
Median Age
Bakersfield
31.9
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
38.2
Foreign Born
Bakersfield
19.9%
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
3.6%
White
Bakersfield
46.9%
Bismarck
84.8%
Bismarck +
Black
Bakersfield
6.2%
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
2.5%
Asian
Bakersfield
7.8%
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
1.0%
Hispanic
Bakersfield
53.6%
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
3.2%
Spanish at Home
Bakersfield
N/A
Bismarck
N/A
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 408,366 | 74,146 | Bakersfield + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.2 | Bakersfield + |
| Foreign Born | 19.9% | 3.6% | Bakersfield + |
| White | 46.9% | 84.8% | Bismarck + |
| Black | 6.2% | 2.5% | Bakersfield + |
| Asian | 7.8% | 1.0% | Bakersfield + |
| Hispanic | 53.6% | 3.2% | Bakersfield + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Bakersfield
$77,397
Bismarck
$77,608
Bismarck +
Per Capita Income
Bakersfield
$32,956
Bismarck
$44,475
Bismarck +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bakersfield
$77,230
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
$71,089
Unemployment Rate
Bakersfield
7.0%
Bismarck
3.6%
Bismarck +
Poverty Rate
Bakersfield
16.0%
Bismarck
9.7%
Bismarck +
Bachelor's Degree+
Bakersfield
23.3%
Bismarck
38.7%
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $77,397 | $77,608 | Bismarck + |
| Per Capita Income | $32,956 | $44,475 | Bismarck + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $77,230 | $71,089 | Bakersfield + |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0% | 3.6% | Bismarck + |
| Poverty Rate | 16.0% | 9.7% | Bismarck + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 23.3% | 38.7% | Bismarck + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bakersfield
$396,712
Bismarck
$373,227
Bismarck +
Homeownership Rate
Bakersfield
60.2%
Bismarck
65.8%
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $396,712 | $373,227 | Bismarck + |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.2% | 65.8% | Bismarck + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bakersfield
503
Bismarck
288
Bismarck +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bakersfield
2388
Bismarck
2037
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 503 | 288 | Bismarck + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2388 | 2037 | Bismarck + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
34.5%
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
35.2%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
12.4%
Bismarck
9.4%
Bismarck +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bakersfield
19.6%
Bismarck
13.3%
Bismarck +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
15.3%
Bismarck
6.6%
Bismarck +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
16.9%
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
20.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
13.4%
Bismarck
12.0%
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 34.5% | 35.2% | Bakersfield + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.4% | 9.4% | Bismarck + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.6% | 13.3% | Bismarck + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 15.3% | 6.6% | Bismarck + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.9% | 20.4% | Bakersfield + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.4% | 12.0% | Bismarck + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bakersfield
64.0°F
Bismarck
42.4°F
Bismarck +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bakersfield
8.0 in
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
19.6 in
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 64.0°F | 42.4°F | Bismarck + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 8.0 in | 19.6 in | Bakersfield + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bakersfield
7.9 µg/m³
Bakersfield +
Bismarck
8.6 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bakersfield
75.0%
Bismarck
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | Bakersfield + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bakersfield
25.1 min
Bismarck
16.7 min
Bismarck +
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Bismarck, ND | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 25.1 min | 16.7 min | Bismarck + |
Which City is Right for You?
Bismarck leads in median household income at $77,608, while bismarck offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $373,227. On public safety, Bismarck is safer with a violent crime rate of 288 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Bakersfield. Bismarck has a lower unemployment rate at 3.6%, and Bakersfield has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Bakersfield scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.5%.
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