Bakersfield receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Modesto
Bakersfield
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 9%
vs47 · Bottom 28%
Growth
62 · Top 30%
vs60 · Top 35%
Climate
77 · Top 26%
vs69 · Bottom 46%
Physical resilience
22 · Bottom 17%
vs15 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
58 · Bottom 29%
vs73 · Top 41%
Access
92 · Bottom 25%
vs98 · Top 31%
Economic stability
55 · Top 50%
vs51 · Bottom 36%
Measured values
| Metric | Modesto | Bakersfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 219,215 | 411,986 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $79,891 | $80,540 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,523 | $33,405 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,056/sq mi | 2,742/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $442,700 | $371,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,690 | $1,472 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.9% | 60.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 6.5% | 6.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 23.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 16.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 768 | 1,750 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.5 | 4.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 247.5% | 9.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 95°F | 98°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 39°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.3" | 6.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 22 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 24.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.1 | 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
Modesto
Elevated or high exposure: drought, earthquake, heat wave.
Bakersfield
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Modesto
57
Your Score
52
Area Score
Bakersfield
59
Your Score
55
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Modesto, CA · Bakersfield, CA · How this is calculated: methodology