Population 915,075 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Kern County
Household size in Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.27 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.34 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 3.28 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.26 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Kern County is a place of big households: 3.26 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Kern County has larger households than the great majority of California counties.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 33.9, Kern County is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 31.8, as it has nationally. Few California counties are younger: only four of 58.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 16.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 17.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Kern County: 17.8% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Only four of California's 58 counties have a higher share of single-parent households.
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 Kern County
Renters in Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 42.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 39.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
About four in ten households in Kern County rent their homes (39.9%), a bit above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in California overall (44.1%). Among homeowners, 36.1% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.3 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.9% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Kern County: 7.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. California as a whole looks much the same. Vacancy has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1986 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Kern County is younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1986, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $968 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,061 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,163 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,610 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$643 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Kern County runs $1,610 a month at the median, utilities included, close to the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in California overall ($2,229). Rents are up $643 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 33.9% of the typical renter's income, 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 Kern County
Bachelor's degrees in Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.3% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Kern County: 20.5% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.6 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the center.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 72.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 73.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 77.2% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
More than one in five adults in Kern County never finished high school, well above the national share: only 77.2% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 6.9 points, as it has nationally. Kern County has a lower share of high school graduates than at least four in five California counties.
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 Kern County
| Period | Kern County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Kern County runs well above the national rate: 8.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.9 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Kern County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County | 3.26 | 33.9 | 17.8% | 39.9% | 7.8% | 1986 | $1,610 | 20.5% | 77.2% | 8.6% |
| San Luis Obispo County | 2.51 | 42.5 | 8.3% | 37.9% | 11.5% | 1984 | $2,115 | 40.4% | 92.5% | 5.5% |
| Coconino County | 2.39 | 36.7 | 11.9% | 40.3% | 15.2% | 1992 | $1,420 | 40.6% | 92.3% | 6.0% |
| Sandoval County | 2.80 | 42.7 | 13.7% | 16.5% | 6.9% | 1997 | $1,476 | 34.8% | 93.3% | 4.9% |
| Oldham County | 2.80 | 29.2 | 11.7% | 26.4% | 21.7% | 1968 | $1,112 | 23.0% | 86.7% | 1.7% |
| Potter County | 2.70 | 35.6 | 14.9% | 42.7% | 14.3% | 1968 | $1,090 | 18.0% | 77.6% | 3.4% |
| Carson County | 2.65 | 41.3 | 8.9% | 20.8% | 19.2% | 1962 | $1,012 | 24.9% | 93.7% | 1.5% |
| Wheeler County | 2.53 | 43.9 | 14.6% | 23.8% | 25.3% | 1969 | $998 | 17.1% | 88.6% | 4.5% |
| Beckham County | 2.42 | 37.0 | 12.9% | 32.2% | 18.0% | 1980 | $886 | 14.2% | 84.0% | 7.5% |
| Washita County | 2.55 | 41.6 | 10.9% | 24.0% | 19.7% | 1967 | $816 | 19.6% | 87.5% | 5.8% |
| Canadian County | 2.94 | 36.4 | 10.7% | 25.2% | 6.3% | 1999 | $1,476 | 33.2% | 93.1% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Fresno County, CA · Westchester County, NY · Duval County, FL · Pinellas County, FL · Fairfield County, CT · Bergen County, NJ · Ventura County, CA · Shelby County, TN · Prince George's County, MD · Pierce County, WA
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 Kern County. 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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