Bakersfield vs Aurora: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Bakersfield, CA and Aurora, CO, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Bakersfield, CA | Aurora, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 404,321 | 387,349 |
| Median household income | $73,827 | $78,685 |
| Median home value | $320,600 | $409,700 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,283 | $1,651 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Bakersfield, CA and Aurora, CO comes down to what you value most. Bakersfield has the lower median home value, and Bakersfield has the lower median rent.
Aurora has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Bakersfield or Aurora?
- By median home value, Bakersfield is the cheaper of the two ($320,600 vs $409,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Bakersfield or Aurora?
- Median household income is $73,827 in Bakersfield versus $78,685 in Aurora, per the US Census Bureau.