Independent Living Communities in Bakersfield, California

CaringScore for Bakersfield, CA

CaringScore was designed to help millions of Americans find the best places to retire, age in place, or receive eldercare. The CaringScore for independent living communities in Bakersfield was based on more than 50 factors in three key categories: health, cost, and livability. By compiling and analyzing this data, Caring.com is able to rate the quality of life you or a loved one might expect should you choose independent living communities in Bakersfield.

CaringScore can range from 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and provides a quick way to compare cities, counties, and even specific zip codes. With a CaringScore of 3.5, Bakersfield rates below average for those seeking independent living communities.

The charts below highlight a few of the factors we used to calculate the CaringScore for Bakersfield. Choose a category score to learn more.

Physicians Per Capita

Cost of Healthcare Index

Sunny Days Per Year

HealthScore for Bakersfield, CA

HealthScore, a component of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Bakersfield, rates a region on a scale of 1 (less healthful) to 10 (more healthful). It's specifically tailored to anyone looking for independent living communities. The HealthScore for Bakersfield is based on the availability of healthcare resources, air and water quality, the overall health of the local population, and other key factors. With a HealthScore of 2.3, Bakersfield rates below average for those seeking independent living communities.

Easy access to physicians -- especially geriatricians and other key specialists -- is important to older adults. At just 121.9 physicians per capita, Bakersfield trails the national average by 44.7 percent. Bakersfield trails the national average in geriatricians per capita by 84.6 percent, with 0.2, and scores 64.1 percent below the national average in specialists per capita, with 7. These medical specialists include cardiologists, oncologists, and orthopedists. The average life expectancy from birth in Bakersfield is 76 years -- 2.4 percent lower than most of the country. The average life expectancy from birth in Bakersfield is 76 years -- 2.4 percent lower than most of the country. and water quality -- another key measure of Bakersfield's environmental health -- trails the national average by 23.6 percent.

Doctors Per Capita	Bakersfield, CA	Nat'l Avg
Physicians	121.9	220.5
Geriatricians	0.2	1.3
Cardiologists	3.1	7.7
Oncologists	0.8	3.5
Orthopedists	2.8	7

Average Life Expectancy

CostScore for Bakersfield, CA

CostScore, part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Bakersfield, rates the cost of living for older adults on a scale of 1 (more expensive) to 10 (less expensive). It's specifically tailored to people looking for independent living communities. The CostScore for Bakersfield is based on data such as the average monthly cost of independent living communities in the region, the cost of housing and healthcare, regional tax rates, and other key factors. With a CostScore of 4.1, the costs associated with independent living communities in Bakersfield are generally more expensive than the national average.

Because of the broad range of housing, service, and healthcare options available at independent living communities, no average monthly cost data is available for Bakersfield. The entry fee or purchase price for an independent living community can range from $50,000 to $500,000 or more, and typically requires an additional monthly service fee of $1,000 to $3,000 on average. The cost of living indices below provide the best proxy for comparing costs of independent living communities in Bakersfield to the rest of the country. Overall, the cost of living for Bakersfield is roughly equal to the national average. Average healthcare costs are 8.0 percent more expensive than the national average, and the cost of housing index is 113 of 10, which mirrors the rest of the country.

Cost of Living	Bakersfield, CA
Aggregate Index	104
Healthcare Index	108
Housing Index	113
Food Index	106
Utilities Index	102
Transportation Index	110

Cost of Healthcare Index

LivabilityScore for Bakersfield, CA

LivabilityScore makes up part of the overall CaringScore for independent living communities in Bakersfield. On a scale of 1 (less livable) to 10 (more livable), it's a rating of the quality of life in a region, specifically tailored to those looking for independent living communities. The LivabilityScore for Bakersfield is based on weather, crime rates, economic factors, average age of the population, and other key demographics. With a LivabilityScore of 4.3, Bakersfield rates below average for independent living communities.

Weather is an important factor in choosing the best place for independent living communities. The sun shines an average of 272 days each year in Bakersfield, 32.7 percent more sunny days than the rest of the U.S. sees. With an average temperature of 38°F in January, winters tend to be milder in Bakersfield than in other parts of the country, and summers are often hotter than other places, averaging 99°F in July.

Local crime rates are another important indicator. The violent crime rate in Bakersfield is 50.0 percent higher than the national average, and the property crime rate is 75.0 percent higher than average. At $53,414 per year, the population of Bakersfield earns a median household income on par with the national average. Bakersfield has an unemployment rate of 12.40 percent, roughly 36.3 percent higher than the national average. And about 8.70 percent of the population in Bakersfield is of retirement age -- 65 or older -- which trails the national average by 33.9 percent.

Sunny Days Per Year

Avg Temperature (°F)

Property Crime Index

Amenities Per Capita	Bakersfield	"Nat'l Avg"
Parks	53.7	136.1
Libraries	3.3	18.8
Places of Worship	72.7	220.5
Public Transit	86.7	110.4
Grocery Stores	137.6	97.7
Pharmacies	15.1	13.8

Percent of Population Over Age 65