Population 16,577 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Taft
Household size in Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.97 | 3.27 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.07 | 3.34 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.98 | 3.28 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.97 | 3.26 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Taft are large by national standards, averaging 2.97 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Even so, the typical household here is smaller than in the wider Bakersfield area, where it has 3.26 people.
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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1 | 31.8 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 32.2 | 32.2 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 32.2 | 33.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 33.3 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.3 | +2.1 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Taft is young: half of its residents are under 33.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. The median age has climbed from 32.1 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.4% | 18.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.9% | 18.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 16.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 22.2% | 17.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head more than one in five households in Taft (22.2%), well above the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 41 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 Taft
Renters in Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.0% | 38.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 51.2% | 42.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 49.2% | 41.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.7% | 39.9% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Taft than nationally: 49.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 54.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the east. The renter share has risen 7.7 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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.2% | 10.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 13.9% | 9.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.9% | 8.9% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 7.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −3.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Taft than nationally: 11.4%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy is down 3.8 points from 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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1956 | 1980 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1960 | 1981 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1959 | 1982 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1986 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Taft is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1956 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northeast, the oldest in the south.
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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $779 | $968 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $952 | $1,061 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $916 | $1,163 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,110 | $1,610 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$331 | +$643 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Taft costs $1,110 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $331 a month from 2006–10, a 42% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 33.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the northeast; the most affordable are in the south.
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 Taft
Bachelor's degrees in Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 14.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.2% | 15.3% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 16.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 20.5% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Taft: 8.4% 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 down 1.1 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only 41 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.0% | 70.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 74.4% | 72.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 70.7% | 73.3% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 70.5% | 77.2% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +6.9 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About three in ten adults in Taft never finished high school, well above the national share: only 70.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. Taft has a lower share of high school graduates than the great majority of California cities.
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 Taft
| Period | Taft | Bakersfield area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 11.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.3% | 13.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 9.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 8.6% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | −2.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Taft: 12.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Only 25 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have higher unemployment. Unemployment is up 3.6 points from 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).
Taft 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taft | 2.97 | 33.3 | 22.2% | 49.7% | 11.4% | 1964 | $1,110 | 8.4% | 70.5% | 12.7% |
| South Taft | 3.74 | 26.7 | 24.7% | 58.1% | 6.9% | 1955 | $993 | 7.7% | 58.4% | 13.5% |
| Ford City | 3.02 | 31.2 | 18.9% | 44.6% | 8.8% | 1949 | $983 | 8.5% | 78.9% | 15.5% |
| Valley Acres | 3.06 | 36.9 | 9.6% | 31.2% | 15.2% | 1978 | $1,178 | 7.4% | 79.0% | 10.2% |
| Maricopa | 2.48 | 40.5 | 8.7% | 38.2% | 15.3% | 1970 | $1,264 | 9.4% | 79.4% | 10.4% |
| Fellows | 2.99 | 37.1 | 9.7% | 33.1% | 15.1% | 1976 | $1,160 | 7.1% | 80.4% | 10.0% |
| Pumpkin Center | 4.35 | 30.5 | 20.7% | 22.7% | 5.4% | 1995 | $1,979 | 27.3% | 82.9% | 3.8% |
| Lamont | 3.59 | 32.1 | 19.8% | 55.3% | 10.8% | 1972 | $1,106 | 5.4% | 43.7% | 10.6% |
| Weedpatch | 3.12 | 27.4 | 21.0% | 70.8% | 5.5% | 1976 | $967 | 4.0% | 39.1% | 19.4% |
| Arvin | 4.07 | 26.5 | 25.7% | 46.3% | 6.2% | 1989 | $1,182 | 5.5% | 47.4% | 15.4% |
| Di Giorgio | 3.18 | 34.5 | 15.9% | 26.6% | 16.2% | 2000 | $1,219 | 16.7% | 66.2% | 13.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Streator, IL · Addison, TX · Aldie, VA · Aldine, TX · Alexandria, KY · Alpena, MI · North Amityville, NY · Norton, MA · North Aurora, IL · North Babylon, NY
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 Taft. 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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