California · GEOID 06029

Kern County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 915,075 · 306,999 housing units

Median household income

$70,210

State $102,676

Median home value

$338,300

State $795,381

Median gross rent

$1,300

State $2,063

Homeownership rate

60.1%

State 55.9%

Renter cost-burden rate

56.4%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

29.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.9%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.5%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

7.2%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.82

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Kern County	California
Population	915,075	39,287,377
Population density (per sq. mi.)	112.49	—
Median household income	$70,210	$102,676
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$81,900	—
Households	284,931	—
Average household size	3.12 people	—
Owner-occupied	60.1%	55.9%
Renter-occupied	39.9%	44.1%
Race	43.9% White · 5.1% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Kern County compared with California.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

18.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 37.1%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	14.9%	$32,385	$810	$89,528
1 earner	36.6%	$54,873	$1,372	$173,236
2 earners	34.9%	$102,974	$2,574	$352,285
3+ earners	13.7%	$130,021	$3,251	$452,963

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

284,931

Average size: 3.12 people

Households with children

104,216

36.6% of households

Per-capita income

$29,699

Poverty rate: 16.7%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

60.1% owner-occupied vs. state average 55.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 75.2% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 13.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

42.1% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,984.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $338,300.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $1,300.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 22,068 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 6.8% · For rent 18.7% · Seasonal 29.5% · Other 34.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

35.5% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 64.5% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.1%

6,503 units of 306,999 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

2.5%

7,558 units of 306,999 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$56,168

100% MHI$70,210

120% MHI$84,252

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Kern County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$54,400	$62,200	$77,700
100% AMI	$57,330	$65,520	$81,900
120% AMI	$68,800	$78,600	$98,300

HUD FMR Area: Bakersfield-Delano, CA MSA. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

56.4% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (29.8% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

29.6% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Kern County.

Covered employment

347,663

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

27,951

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$60,066

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	57,737	$38,318	$111,613	−$226,687	$958
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	50,017	$57,288	$182,226	−$156,074	$1,432
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	37,109	$64,160	$207,806	−$130,494	$1,604
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	32,172	$40,844	$121,016	−$217,284	$1,021
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	29,396	$91,842	$310,848	−$27,452	$2,296
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	26,724	$28,342	$74,479	−$263,821	$709
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	19,891	$69,736	$228,562	−$109,738	$1,743
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	15,984	$77,330	$256,829	−$81,471	$1,933
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	13,261	$82,998	$277,927	−$60,373	$2,075
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	12,889	$55,028	$173,813	−$164,487	$1,376
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	10,761	$82,511	$276,114	−$62,186	$2,063
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	8,341	$78,728	$262,033	−$76,267	$1,968
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	8,250	$47,943	$147,441	−$190,859	$1,199
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	6,717	$107,761	$370,103	+$31,803	$2,694
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	4,441	$85,131	$285,867	−$52,433	$2,128
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	3,443	$27,447	$71,148	−$267,152	$686
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	3,432	$68,051	$222,289	−$116,011	$1,701
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	2,841	$145,906	$512,092	+$173,792	$3,648
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	2,401	$133,975	$467,681	+$129,381	$3,349
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	1,838	$60,893	$195,645	−$142,655	$1,522
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	18	$88,328	$297,767	−$40,533	$2,208

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	42,314	$33,256	$92,771	−$245,529	$831
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	37,109	$64,160	$207,806	−$130,494	$1,604
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	24,905	$28,190	$73,913	−$264,387	$705
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	16,934	$71,845	$236,412	−$101,888	$1,796
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	16,474	$26,360	$67,101	−$271,199	$659
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	13,409	$51,271	$159,829	−$178,471	$1,282
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	11,648	$83,608	$280,198	−$58,102	$2,090
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	11,441	$52,297	$163,648	−$174,652	$1,307
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	10,761	$82,511	$276,114	−$62,186	$2,063
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	10,542	$90,360	$305,331	−$32,969	$2,259
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	10,273	$69,894	$229,150	−$109,150	$1,747
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	9,059	$75,787	$251,085	−$87,215	$1,895
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	8,048	$116,533	$402,756	+$64,456	$2,913
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	7,580	$33,642	$94,207	−$244,093	$841
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	6,930	$36,037	$103,122	−$235,178	$901
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	6,066	$43,181	$129,715	−$208,585	$1,080
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	5,767	$60,024	$192,410	−$145,890	$1,501
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	4,775	$77,569	$257,719	−$80,581	$1,939
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	4,447	$63,906	$206,860	−$131,440	$1,598
NAICS 213 Support activities for mining NAICS 213	4,307	$96,429	$327,922	−$10,378	$2,411
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	4,287	$63,353	$204,802	−$133,498	$1,584
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	4,008	$59,083	$188,907	−$149,393	$1,477
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	3,838	$67,125	$218,843	−$119,457	$1,678
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	3,334	$35,213	$100,055	−$238,245	$880
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	3,332	$79,476	$264,817	−$73,483	$1,987
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	3,128	$92,128	$311,912	−$26,388	$2,303
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	3,043	$94,423	$320,455	−$17,845	$2,361
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	2,841	$145,906	$512,092	+$173,792	$3,648
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	2,610	$42,696	$127,909	−$210,391	$1,067
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	2,583	$88,982	$300,202	−$38,098	$2,225
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	2,569	$25,163	$62,646	−$275,654	$629
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	2,401	$133,975	$467,681	+$129,381	$3,349
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	2,344	$25,408	$63,558	−$274,742	$635
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	2,289	$81,622	$272,805	−$65,495	$2,041
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	2,100	$39,011	$114,193	−$224,107	$975
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	2,097	$51,434	$160,435	−$177,865	$1,286
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	2,087	$60,243	$193,225	−$145,075	$1,506
NAICS 336 Transportation equipment manufacturing NAICS 336	2,064	$128,738	$448,187	+$109,887	$3,218
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	1,997	$58,309	$186,026	−$152,274	$1,458
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	1,910	$36,126	$103,454	−$234,846	$903
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	1,874	$76,965	$255,470	−$82,830	$1,924
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	1,819	$30,417	$82,203	−$256,097	$760
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	1,680	$31,606	$86,629	−$251,671	$790
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	1,448	$76,609	$254,145	−$84,155	$1,915
NAICS 532 Rental and leasing services NAICS 532	1,345	$80,166	$267,386	−$70,914	$2,004
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	1,327	$88,690	$299,115	−$39,185	$2,217
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	1,295	$80,350	$268,070	−$70,230	$2,009
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	1,245	$51,856	$162,006	−$176,294	$1,296
NAICS 211 Oil and gas extraction NAICS 211	1,235	$151,604	$533,302	+$195,002	$3,790
NAICS 212 Mining (except oil and gas) NAICS 212	1,175	$103,220	$353,200	+$14,900	$2,581
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	1,160	$67,441	$220,019	−$118,281	$1,686
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	1,150	$65,865	$214,152	−$124,148	$1,647
NAICS 325 Chemical manufacturing NAICS 325	1,064	$79,709	$265,684	−$72,616	$1,993
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	1,041	$59,656	$191,040	−$147,260	$1,491
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	973	$60,905	$195,690	−$142,610	$1,523
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	783	$33,435	$93,437	−$244,863	$836
NAICS 324 Petroleum and coal products manufacturing NAICS 324	765	$155,298	$547,052	+$208,752	$3,882
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	704	$90,175	$304,642	−$33,658	$2,254
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	655	$119,578	$414,090	+$75,790	$2,989
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	613	$72,641	$239,375	−$98,925	$1,816
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	569	$87,091	$293,163	−$45,137	$2,177
NAICS 326 Plastics and rubber products manufacturing NAICS 326	563	$57,186	$181,846	−$156,454	$1,430
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	516	$70,749	$232,332	−$105,968	$1,769
NAICS 927 Space research and technology NAICS 927	480	$143,698	$503,873	+$165,573	$3,592
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	464	$62,425	$201,348	−$136,952	$1,561
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	430	$59,446	$190,259	−$148,041	$1,486
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	417	$62,731	$202,487	−$135,813	$1,568
NAICS 512 Motion picture and sound recording industries NAICS 512	397	$23,809	$57,606	−$280,694	$595
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	302	$47,579	$146,086	−$192,214	$1,189
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	298	$53,113	$166,685	−$171,615	$1,328
NAICS 523 Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities NAICS 523	236	$185,672	$660,115	+$321,815	$4,642
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	234	$91,715	$310,375	−$27,925	$2,293
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	231	$33,776	$94,706	−$243,594	$844
NAICS 486 Pipeline transportation NAICS 486	194	$137,316	$480,117	+$141,817	$3,433
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	186	$29,857	$80,118	−$258,182	$746
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	162	$39,129	$114,632	−$223,668	$978
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	150	$46,226	$141,049	−$197,251	$1,156
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	150	$61,563	$198,139	−$140,161	$1,539
NAICS 331 Primary metal manufacturing NAICS 331	107	$63,190	$204,195	−$134,105	$1,580
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	91	$40,420	$119,437	−$218,863	$1,011
NAICS 314 Textile product mills NAICS 314	41	$61,101	$196,419	−$141,881	$1,528
NAICS 525 Funds, trusts, and other financial vehicles NAICS 525	41	$77,647	$258,009	−$80,291	$1,941
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	18	$88,328	$297,767	−$40,533	$2,208

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	8,350	(510)	(6%)	$18.35	$38,160	$111,025	$954
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	1,690	170	11%	$18.46	$38,400	$111,918	$960
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	9,180	1,750	24%	$19.37	$40,290	$118,954	$1,007
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	6,050	(1,070)	(15%)	$19.39	$40,330	$119,102	$1,008
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	2,920	(470)	(14%)	$19.80	$41,180	$122,266	$1,030
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	4,060	860	27%	$20.69	$43,030	$129,153	$1,076
Tellers SOC 43-3071	560	(170)	(23%)	$21.21	$44,120	$133,210	$1,103
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	1,720	(340)	(17%)	$22.36	$46,500	$142,069	$1,163
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	5,500	450	9%	$22.38	$46,540	$142,218	$1,164
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	7,050	2,310	49%	$27.18	$56,530	$179,404	$1,413
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	2,490	(40)	(2%)	$27.52	$57,240	$182,047	$1,431
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	1,480	(930)	(39%)	$29.28	$60,910	$195,708	$1,523
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	120	(70)	(37%)	$34.21	$71,150	$233,825	$1,779
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	1,100	210	24%	$34.33	$71,400	$234,756	$1,785
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	960	480	100%	$36.59	$76,110	$252,288	$1,903
Electricians SOC 47-2111	1,410	340	32%	$38.44	$79,960	$266,619	$1,999
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	4,540	370	9%	—	$85,920	$288,804	$2,148
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	1,320	(290)	(18%)	$43.54	$90,570	$306,113	$2,264
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	5,620	1,010	22%	$61.63	$128,200	$446,184	$3,205
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	780	(200)	(20%)	$95.91	$199,490	$711,550	$4,987

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 06029 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.