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
Visalia
Bakersfield-Delano
Opportunity
24 · Bottom 3%
vs36 · Bottom 14%
Growth
63 · Top 29%
vs58 · Top 36%
Climate
71 · Top 34%
vs69 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
14 · Bottom 5%
vs15 · Bottom 6%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 15%
vs70 · Bottom 12%
Access
67 · Bottom 32%
vs92 · Top 20%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 47%
vs41 · Bottom 35%
Measured values
| Metric | Visalia | Bakersfield-Delano | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 478,693 | 915,075 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $71,300 | $70,210 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,185 | $29,699 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 99/sq mi | 112/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $330,100 | $338,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,280 | $1,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.5% | 60.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 10.1% | 8.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 18.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.9% | 19.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,015 | 3,215 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.2 | 3.5 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 36.1% | 5.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 96°F | 98°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 37°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.1" | 6.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 57 mi | 19 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 25.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.1 | 32.7 | 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
Visalia
Elevated or high exposure: heat wave, inland flooding, wildfire.
Bakersfield-Delano
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.
Visalia
52
Your Score
46
Area Score
Bakersfield-Delano
54
Your Score
49
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Visalia, CA Metro Area · Bakersfield-Delano, CA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology