Bakersfield CA vs Jonesboro AR — 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%

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
UnemploymentN/A
Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Bakersfield

408,366

Jonesboro

N/A

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Bakersfield

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Median Age

Bakersfield

31.9

Jonesboro

N/A

Foreign Born

Bakersfield

19.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

White

Bakersfield

46.9%

Jonesboro

N/A

Black

Bakersfield

6.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Asian

Bakersfield

7.8%

Jonesboro

N/A

Hispanic

Bakersfield

53.6%

Jonesboro

N/A

Spanish at Home

Bakersfield

N/A

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Population	408,366	N/A	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	31.9	N/A	-
Foreign Born	19.9%	N/A	-
White	46.9%	N/A	-
Black	6.2%	N/A	-
Asian	7.8%	N/A	-
Hispanic	53.6%	N/A	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Bakersfield

$77,397

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Income

Bakersfield

$32,956

Jonesboro

N/A

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Bakersfield

$77,230

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

$53,714

Unemployment Rate

Bakersfield

7.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Poverty Rate

Bakersfield

16.0%

Jonesboro

N/A

Bachelor's Degree+

Bakersfield

23.3%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median HH Income	$77,397	N/A	-
Per Capita Income	$32,956	N/A	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$77,230	$53,714	Bakersfield +
Unemployment Rate	7.0%	N/A	-
Poverty Rate	16.0%	N/A	-
Bachelor's Degree+	23.3%	N/A	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Bakersfield

$396,712

Jonesboro

$225,577

Jonesboro +

Homeownership Rate

Bakersfield

60.2%

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$396,712	$225,577	Jonesboro +
Homeownership Rate	60.2%	N/A	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Bakersfield

503

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

660

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Bakersfield

2388

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

2507

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	503	660	Bakersfield +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2388	2507	Bakersfield +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Bakersfield

34.5%

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

39.2%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Bakersfield

12.4%

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Bakersfield

19.6%

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

20.5%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Bakersfield

15.3%

Jonesboro

11.6%

Jonesboro +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Bakersfield

16.9%

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Bakersfield

13.4%

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

15.7%

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	34.5%	39.2%	Bakersfield +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	12.4%	11.4%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	19.6%	20.5%	Bakersfield +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	15.3%	11.6%	Jonesboro +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	16.9%	15.1%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	13.4%	15.7%	Bakersfield +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Bakersfield

64.0°F

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Bakersfield

8.0 in

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	64.0°F	59.2°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	8.0 in	48.2 in	Bakersfield +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Bakersfield

7.9 µg/m³

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Bakersfield

75.0%

Bakersfield +

Jonesboro

55.0%

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.9 µg/m³	9.5 µg/m³	Bakersfield +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Bakersfield +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Bakersfield

25.1 min

Jonesboro

N/A

Metric	Bakersfield, CA	Jonesboro, AR	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	25.1 min	N/A	-

Which City is Right for You?

Jonesboro offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,577. On public safety, Bakersfield is safer with a violent crime rate of 503 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. 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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About Bakersfield & Jonesboro

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