Population 14,441 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in California City
Household size in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.90 | 3.27 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 3.34 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 3.28 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.76 | 3.26 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in California City average 2.76 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Locally, though, the typical household here is smaller than in the Bakersfield area overall, where it has 3.26 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.90, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.8 | 31.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.9 | 32.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.1 | 33.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.7 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.1 | +2.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.7, California City is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Locally, though, the population here is older than in the Bakersfield area overall, where the median age is 33.9. The median age has dropped from 36.8 in 2006–10, even as the national median rose.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.5% | 18.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.3% | 16.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.1% | 17.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.4 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in California City than nationally: 14.1%, against 11.6%. Still, single parents are less common here than in the wider Bakersfield area (17.8%). The single-parent share is down 3.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in California City
Renters in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3% | 38.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.3% | 42.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 44.0% | 41.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.1% | 39.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +6.8 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in California City than nationally: 44.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. More than a third of owners (35.7%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 6.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.6% | 10.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 25.1% | 9.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 8.9% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 7.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −10.2 pts | −3.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in California City: 16.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 10.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1988 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1986 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
California City has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. California City has newer homes than the great majority of California cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $885 | $968 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $940 | $1,061 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $870 | $1,163 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,415 | $1,610 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$530 | +$643 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in California City runs $1,415 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $530 a month since 2006–10, up 60%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 39.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in California City
Bachelor's degrees in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 14.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.4% | 15.3% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 16.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 20.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in California City: 13.1% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.7% | 70.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 80.3% | 72.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 81.3% | 73.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 81.4% | 77.2% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Nearly one in five adults in California City never finished high school, well above the national share: only 81.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Still, the rate is higher than in the Bakersfield area as a whole (77.2%).
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in California City
| Period | California City | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.3% | 11.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 24.0% | 13.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.6% | 9.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 8.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in California City: 20.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only two of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment has edged up 1.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
California City compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California City | 2.76 | 35.7 | 14.1% | 44.1% | 16.4% | 1993 | $1,415 | 13.1% | 81.4% | 20.7% |
| North Edwards | 2.13 | 30.7 | 24.0% | 49.3% | 30.1% | 1969 | $1,119 | 16.1% | 85.6% | 10.0% |
| Mojave | 2.93 | 36.1 | 17.3% | 58.1% | 8.6% | 1977 | $1,213 | 7.9% | 77.4% | 13.7% |
| Desert Lake | 2.78 | 48.1 | 4.4% | 17.4% | 22.2% | 1961 | $1,351 | 19.0% | 73.5% | 29.6% |
| Boron | 3.12 | 34.9 | 4.4% | 55.9% | 21.0% | 1959 | $1,223 | 22.3% | 79.3% | 18.0% |
| Monolith | 2.04 | 58.4 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 17.6% | 1992 | $1,404 | 24.5% | 88.2% | 4.3% |
| Golden Hills | 2.62 | 41.6 | 11.1% | 17.3% | 11.9% | 1987 | $1,628 | 30.1% | 91.5% | 12.1% |
| Tehachapi | 2.52 | 42.8 | 9.9% | 28.7% | 12.1% | 1987 | $1,505 | 21.2% | 86.3% | 7.2% |
| Lockhart | 2.98 | 31.4 | 1.4% | 43.9% | 2.8% | 1965 | $1,265 | 8.0% | 85.9% | 33.8% |
| Keene | 2.25 | 57.5 | 2.1% | 5.5% | 31.0% | 1988 | $1,425 | 40.5% | 94.0% | 4.6% |
| Bear Valley Springs | 2.49 | 51.2 | 6.7% | 6.1% | 15.1% | 1990 | $1,737 | 40.1% | 95.2% | 3.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Albertville, MN · Allouez, WI · Barboursville, WV · Leesville, LA · Los Osos, CA · Loris, SC · Springdale, NJ · St. Ann, MO · St. Clairsville, OH · St. Helens, OR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up California City. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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