Population 5,128 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake Isabella
Household size in Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.19 | 3.27 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.24 | 3.34 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 3.28 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 3.26 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.23 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Lake Isabella has 2.42 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Household size has climbed from 2.19 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.0 | 31.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 51.3 | 32.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.0 | 33.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.5 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −11.5 | +2.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Lake Isabella are younger than 39.5 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in the Bakersfield area overall, where the median age is 33.9. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 51.0, 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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.0% | 18.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.2% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.8% | 16.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 26.6% | 17.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +14.5 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Lake Isabella: 26.6% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 14.5 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
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 Lake Isabella
Renters in Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.0% | 38.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 34.1% | 42.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.9% | 41.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.5% | 39.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Lake Isabella is about as common as it is nationally: 35.5% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in the wider Bakersfield area (39.9%). Among homeowners, 69.7% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 5.6 points from 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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.2% | 10.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.3% | 9.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 8.9% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 23.4% | 7.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | −3.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 23.4% of the housing in Lake Isabella, 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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1972 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1986 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −1 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in Lake Isabella leans older: the median home dates to 1973, against 1980 nationally.
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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $549 | $968 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $826 | $1,061 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,017 | $1,163 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,135 | $1,610 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$586 | +$643 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Lake Isabella runs $1,135 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $586 a month from 2006–10, a 107% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 41.6% 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 Lake Isabella
Bachelor's degrees in Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.2% | 14.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.8% | 15.3% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.7% | 16.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.6% | 20.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Lake Isabella: 10.6% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is little changed from 2006–10, while the national share rose.
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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.3% | 70.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.4% | 72.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 73.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.6% | 77.2% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Lake Isabella is close to the national rate: 90.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is higher than in the Bakersfield area as a whole (77.2%). The share with a diploma is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Lake Isabella
| Period | Lake Isabella | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.4% | 11.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 13.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 16.2% | 9.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 8.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Lake Isabella than nationally: unemployment was 7.1%, against 5.4%. Even so, the rate is lower than in the Bakersfield area as a whole (8.6%). Unemployment is down 3.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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).
Lake Isabella 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Isabella | 2.42 | 39.5 | 26.6% | 35.5% | 23.4% | 1973 | $1,135 | 10.6% | 90.6% | 7.1% |
| Bodfish | 2.27 | 50.4 | 18.8% | 32.6% | 23.5% | 1978 | $1,012 | 15.5% | 88.4% | 14.8% |
| Mountain Mesa | 2.26 | 59.0 | 9.0% | 15.1% | 19.6% | 1980 | $1,049 | 9.6% | 92.9% | 0.0% |
| Wofford Heights | 1.97 | 58.0 | 5.0% | 24.5% | 21.7% | 1977 | $888 | 14.4% | 87.2% | 19.8% |
| Weldon | 2.01 | 63.2 | 14.3% | 20.3% | 19.9% | 1980 | $1,160 | 11.2% | 85.0% | 4.4% |
| Kernville | 1.58 | 64.2 | 2.1% | 15.7% | 39.1% | 1980 | $1,513 | 40.6% | 99.9% | 7.5% |
| Johnsondale | 1.71 | 65.4 | 2.0% | 6.2% | 48.4% | 1980 | $1,520 | 22.3% | 100.0% | 12.6% |
| Onyx | 2.20 | 33.5 | 8.0% | 44.4% | 26.6% | 1976 | $1,250 | 35.6% | 75.9% | 23.6% |
| Glennville | 1.70 | 64.7 | 6.4% | 10.2% | 53.1% | 1971 | $800 | 19.1% | 92.4% | 0.0% |
| Woody | 1.70 | 64.7 | 6.4% | 10.2% | 53.1% | 1971 | $800 | 19.1% | 92.4% | 0.0% |
| Pearsonville | 2.23 | 50.1 | 4.8% | 23.1% | 27.3% | 1982 | $1,000 | 41.2% | 87.6% | 6.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Vandercook Lake, MI · West Portsmouth, OH · Wewahitchka, FL · White Cloud, MI · Whites Creek, TN · Waverly, VA · Watseka, IL · Wildwood, NJ · Williams, AZ · Watertown, MN
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 Lake Isabella. 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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