Population 77 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Desert Lake
Household size in Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 3.27 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.86 | 3.34 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 3.28 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.78 | 3.26 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.31 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Desert Lake holds 2.78 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in the Bakersfield area overall, where it has 3.26 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.47, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.5 | 31.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.3 | 32.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 37.3 | 33.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +8.7 | +2.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 48.1, Desert Lake is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 18.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.9% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 16.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 17.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −6.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Desert Lake: 4.4% of households, against 11.6% 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 Desert Lake
Renters in Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.5% | 38.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 37.2% | 42.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.5% | 41.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.4% | 39.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −19.0 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.4% of households in Desert Lake rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. About six in ten owners (61.5%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.2% | 10.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.4% | 9.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 8.9% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 7.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −6.0 pts | −3.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Desert Lake: 22.2% 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.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1958 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1961 | 1986 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Desert Lake is a place of older homes: half were built before 1961, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $636 | $968 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $727 | $1,061 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $721 | $1,163 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,351 | $1,610 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$715 | +$643 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Desert Lake costs $1,351 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 17.3% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Desert Lake
Bachelor's degrees in Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.0% | 14.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 15.3% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 16.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.0% | 20.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Desert Lake have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.0%, against 35.6% nationally. The picture is much the same across the Bakersfield area.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.5% | 70.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 76.1% | 72.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 86.3% | 73.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 73.5% | 77.2% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over a quarter of adults in Desert Lake never finished high school, well above the national share: only 73.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally.
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 Desert Lake
| Period | Desert Lake | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 11.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 13.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 9.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 29.6% | 8.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +11.4 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Desert Lake: 29.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Desert Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| North Edwards | 2.13 | 30.7 | 24.0% | 49.3% | 30.1% | 1969 | $1,119 | 16.1% | 85.6% | 10.0% |
| Edwards Air Force Base | 3.07 | 25.1 | 12.0% | 93.3% | 11.6% | 1999 | $2,388 | 48.8% | 79.4% | 15.4% |
| Edwards | 3.04 | 24.9 | 12.6% | 94.2% | 12.6% | 1999 | $2,386 | 48.5% | 94.6% | 15.4% |
| Edwards AFB | 3.08 | 24.6 | 12.1% | 96.4% | 11.8% | 2000 | $2,441 | 49.9% | 100.0% | 15.6% |
| California City | 2.76 | 35.7 | 14.1% | 44.1% | 16.4% | 1993 | $1,415 | 13.1% | 81.4% | 20.7% |
| Lockhart | 2.98 | 31.4 | 1.4% | 43.9% | 2.8% | 1965 | $1,265 | 8.0% | 85.9% | 33.8% |
| Hinkley | 3.03 | 52.8 | 11.3% | 33.9% | 17.7% | 1975 | $1,260 | 9.8% | 82.3% | 9.2% |
| Mojave | 2.93 | 36.1 | 17.3% | 58.1% | 8.6% | 1977 | $1,213 | 7.9% | 77.4% | 13.7% |
| Monolith | 2.04 | 58.4 | 5.4% | 6.0% | 17.6% | 1992 | $1,404 | 24.5% | 88.2% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Raub, IN · Miranda, SD · Modoc Point, OR · Monango, ND · Pitkin, CO · Pleasure Beach, CT · Pondfork, MO · Poplar Springs, SC · Pottery Addition, OH · Priceville, PA
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 Desert Lake. 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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