Bakersfield-Delano receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Bakersfield-Delano
Visalia
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 14%
vs24 · Bottom 3%
Growth
58 · Top 36%
vs63 · Top 29%
Climate
69 · Top 42%
vs71 · Top 34%
Physical resilience
15 · Bottom 6%
vs14 · Bottom 5%
Housing affordability
70 · Bottom 12%
vs74 · Bottom 15%
Access
92 · Top 20%
vs67 · Bottom 32%
Economic stability
41 · Bottom 35%
vs48 · Bottom 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Bakersfield-Delano | Visalia | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 915,075 | 478,693 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $70,210 | $71,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $29,699 | $28,185 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 112/sq mi | 99/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $338,300 | $330,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,300 | $1,280 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 60.1% | 58.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 8.8% | 10.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.1% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 16.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% | 17.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 3,215 | 2,015 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.5 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.0% | 36.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 98°F | 96°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 6.4" | 12.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 19 mi | 57 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 25.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.7 | 32.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Bakersfield-Delano
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, earthquake.
Visalia
Elevated or high exposure: heat wave, inland flooding, wildfire.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Bakersfield-Delano
54
Your Score
49
Area Score
Visalia
52
Your Score
46
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metro Area · Visalia, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology