Bakersfield CA vs Nashua NH — 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%

Nashua, NH

New Hampshire · Population: 91,131

  • Median HH Income$92,457
  • Median Home Price$507,692
  • Unemployment4.8%
  • Bachelor's+40.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Bakersfield
408,366
Bakersfield +
Nashua
91,131
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Bakersfield
N/A
Nashua
N/A
Median Age
Bakersfield
31.9
Bakersfield +
Nashua
39.7
Foreign Born
Bakersfield
19.9%
Bakersfield +
Nashua
16.4%
White
Bakersfield
46.9%
Nashua
75.1%
Nashua +
Black
Bakersfield
6.2%
Bakersfield +
Nashua
2.6%
Asian
Bakersfield
7.8%
Bakersfield +
Nashua
7.6%
Hispanic
Bakersfield
53.6%
Bakersfield +
Nashua
14.0%
Spanish at Home
Bakersfield
N/A
Nashua
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Bakersfield
$77,397
Nashua
$92,457
Nashua +
Per Capita Income
Bakersfield
$32,956
Nashua
$50,026
Nashua +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Bakersfield
$77,230
Bakersfield +
Nashua
$75,331
Unemployment Rate
Bakersfield
7.0%
Nashua
4.8%
Nashua +
Poverty Rate
Bakersfield
16.0%
Nashua
7.1%
Nashua +
Bachelor's Degree+
Bakersfield
23.3%
Nashua
40.5%
Nashua +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Bakersfield
$396,712
Bakersfield +
Nashua
$507,692
Homeownership Rate
Bakersfield
60.2%
Bakersfield +
Nashua
56.4%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bakersfield
503
Nashua
134
Nashua +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Bakersfield
2388
Nashua
1048
Nashua +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
34.5%
Nashua
33.2%
Nashua +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
12.4%
Nashua
9.4%
Nashua +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Bakersfield
19.6%
Nashua
15.5%
Nashua +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
15.3%
Nashua
8.8%
Nashua +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
16.9%
Nashua
15.7%
Nashua +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Bakersfield
13.4%
Nashua
10.9%
Nashua +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bakersfield
64.0°F
Nashua
47.7°F
Nashua +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Bakersfield
8.0 in
Bakersfield +
Nashua
48.0 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Bakersfield
7.9 µg/m³
Nashua
5.9 µg/m³
Nashua +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Bakersfield
75.0%
Nashua
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Bakersfield
25.1 min
Bakersfield +
Nashua
27.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Nashua leads in median household income at $92,457, while bakersfield offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $396,712. On public safety, Nashua is safer with a violent crime rate of 134 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Bakersfield. Nashua has a lower unemployment rate at 4.8%, and Nashua has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Nashua scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Bakersfield & Nashua