City · California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, city, in Kern County, California. Bakersfield had 422,165 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 403,455 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 411,986 (±100). GEOID 0603526.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
422,165
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 403,455 · ACS 2020-2024: 411,986 ±100
Median household income
$80,540
±$2,119 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$371,700
±$3,302 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,472
±$33 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Bakersfield and what county is it in?
Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California. It covers 150.3 square miles of land, 2,685 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bakersfield is in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bakersfield, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 422,165 people lived in Bakersfield on July 1, 2025, up 4.4% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 403,455 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 411,986 (±100).
| Measure | Bakersfield | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 411,986±100 | 915,075 | +34,069 |
| Households | 129,625±1,521 | 284,931 | +12,575 |
| Average household size | 3.14±0.04 | 3.12 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 135,724±1,410 | 306,999 | +11,246 |
Bakersfield's population since 2000
From 247,057 in 2000 to 422,165 in 2025: up 70.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bakersfield as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bakersfield?
The median resident of Bakersfield is 32.1 years old; 29.2% are under 18 and 11.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 54.7%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 27.6%. 20.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.1±0.4 | 32.7 | +1.3 |
| Under 18 years | 29.2%±0.5 pts | 28.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.3%±0.3 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Male | 49.2%±0.5 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 54.7%±0.8 pts | 56.5% | +4.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 27.6%±0.8 pts | 29.6% | −4.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.7%±0.4 pts | 4.8% | −1.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 7.8%±0.4 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±0.3 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 20.2%±0.7 pts | 20.2% | +1.3 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 44.3%±1.1 pts | 45.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5%±0.3 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 11.7%±0.5 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.4%±0.5 pts | 7.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 81.8%±0.8 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.6%±0.9 pts | 18.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.4%±0.5 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1%±0.8 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.6%±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bakersfield earn?
Half of Bakersfield's 129,625 households earn less than $80,540 a year (±$2,119), against $70,210 in Kern County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $77,705 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $2,835 after inflation. 16.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,540±$2,119 | $70,210 | +$2,835 |
| Mean household income | $103,729±$2,481 | $93,147 | – |
| Per capita income | $33,405±$840 | $29,699 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 16.3%±1.0 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.0%±2.1 pts | 25.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 18.0%±1.0 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.1%±0.4 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0%±0.6 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bakersfield?
Owners occupy 60.6% of Bakersfield's occupied homes and renters 39.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $371,700 by its owner (±$3,302). The median renter pays $1,472 a month including utilities, and 48.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $371,700±$3,302 | $338,300 | +$67,719 |
| Median gross rent | $1,472±$33 | $1,300 | +$113 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.0%±1.8 pts | 48.3% | +3.4 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,107±$33 | $1,968 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 60.6%±1.3 pts | 60.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.4%±1.3 pts | 39.9% | – |
| Housing units | 135,724±1,410 | 306,999 | +11,246 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.4%±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6%±0.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.8%±1.1 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.0%±0.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5%±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 11.8%±0.8 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.1%±0.3 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.4%±0.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bakersfield building?
Builders took permits for 1,648 new housing units in Bakersfield in 2025 (1,401 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 5 of 12 months), 3.9 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bakersfield work and get to work?
79.1% of Bakersfield's workers drive alone and 8.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.0%.
| Measure | Bakersfield | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.2%±0.7 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.0%±0.6 pts | 8.6% | −1.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.1%±1.3 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2%±0.9 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 0.8%±0.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.2%±0.7 pts | 7.5% | +4.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.6 min±0.6 | 24.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bakersfield?
94 census tracts lie mostly in Bakersfield, and 43 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $14,710 (Tract 20.01) to $172,000 (Tract 28.11).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 32.08Kern County | 7,263 | $91,250 |
| Tract 28.20Kern County | 6,827 | $122,787 |
| Tract 32.18Kern County | 6,772 | $104,971 |
| Tract 38.14Kern County | 7,410 | $135,116 |
| Tract 32.12Kern County | 6,521 | $146,615 |
| Tract 28.16Kern County | 6,350 | $84,967 |
| Tract 31.12Kern County | 6,205 | $69,011 |
| Tract 38.06Kern County | 6,062 | $122,500 |
| Tract 38.15Kern County | 5,964 | $137,793 |
| Tract 18.01Kern County | 5,720 | $56,026 |
| Tract 32.19Kern County | 5,800 | $113,906 |
| Tract 8Kern County | 5,617 | $95,208 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bakersfield) · Census block assignment files
How does Bakersfield compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bakersfield is the 47th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 9th-most populous of 483 in California.
Bakersfield ranks 673rd of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 9th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 62nd | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 500th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 673rd | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 720th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 809th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 721st | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 236th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 632nd | 988 |
| Median age | 923rd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 655th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 683rd | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 795th | 1,069 |
Bakersfield's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Bakersfield with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bakersfield?
1 of the 57 figures for Bakersfield on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bakersfield are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Bakersfield.