Bakersfield or Fresno: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Fresno wins on more indicators: 5 of 11 against 3.
- Money: Bakersfield 3:1
- Climate and risks: Fresno 0:4
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Bakersfield
Indicator
Fresno
Money
Better: Bakersfield (3 : 1)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$50,641
202411% lower
✓$56,699
202412% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,822
2026-09-3011% lower
✗$2,052
2026-09-3013% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$360,210
2026-09-3011% lower
✗$404,052
2026-09-3012% higher
Price level
lower is better
✓100.9 100 = US average
20241% lower
✗102.2 100 = US average
20241% higher
Climate and risks
Better: Fresno (0 : 4)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✗72 AQI
20247% higher
✓67 AQI
20247% lower
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✗94 days per year
202419% higher
✓79 days per year
202416% lower
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
141 days per year
2016-2025almost equal
✓140 days per year
2016-2025almost equal
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
tie
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
0.0 days per year
2016-2025
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
938 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,012 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,591 °C·days per year
2016-2025
1,480 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
27 days per year
2016-2025
34 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
0 days per year
2016-2025
0 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
170 mm per year
2016-2025
277 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.8 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.6 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
14.5 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
14.7 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
49 %
2021-2025
54 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
tie
0 days per year
2021-2025
0 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
118 km
2006-2025
175 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
lower is better
✗0.15 per year
2006-2025
✓0.00 per year
2006-2025
Strongest earthquake in the period
no data for one of the places
5.2 magnitude
2006-2025
no data
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
922,529 people
2024
1,189,557 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Bakersfield, Fresno.