City · California
McFarland, California
McFarland, city, in Kern County, California. McFarland had 14,709 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 14,161 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 14,222 (±23). GEOID 0644826.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
14,709
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 14,161 · ACS 2020-2024: 14,222 ±23
Median household income
$54,608
±$7,379 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$272,700
±$18,541 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,131
±$42 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is McFarland and what county is it in?
McFarland is a city in Kern County, California. It covers 6.3 square miles of land, 2,233 residents per square mile in 2020.
McFarland 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 McFarland, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 14,709 people lived in McFarland on July 1, 2025, up 3.3% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 14,161 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 14,222 (±23).
| Measure | McFarland | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,222 ±23 | 915,075 | −601 |
| Households | 3,570 ±253 | 284,931 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 3.89 ±0.27 | 3.12 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,757 ±270 | 306,999 | +390 |
McFarland's population since 2000
From 9,618 in 2000 to 14,709 in 2025: up 52.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for McFarland 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 McFarland?
The median resident of McFarland is 26.3 years old; 35.7% are under 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 87.7%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 9.3%. 26.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | McFarland | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.3 ±2.1 | 32.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 35.7% ±3.3 pts | 28.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 7.2% ±1.6 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Male | 48.6% ±2.2 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 87.7% ±6.0 pts | 56.5% | −7.0 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 9.3% ±5.7 pts | 29.6% | +5.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±1.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 26.8% ±3.7 pts | 20.2% | −9.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 71.4% ±6.6 pts | 45.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 9.0% ±2.1 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.0% ±2.1 pts | 7.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 59.2% ±4.3 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 6.0% ±2.0 pts | 18.8% | +2.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 96.5% ±1.6 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.4% ±0.4 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 McFarland earn?
Half of McFarland's 3,570 households earn less than $54,608 a year (±$7,379), against $70,210 in Kern County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $43,500 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $11,108 after inflation. 24.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | McFarland | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,608 ±$7,379 | $70,210 | +$11,108 |
| Mean household income | $67,620 ±$7,288 | $93,147 | – |
| Per capita income | $17,492 ±$1,702 | $29,699 | +$4,007 |
| People below the poverty line | 24.1% ±6.1 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 32.4% ±10.7 pts | 25.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 25.8% ±6.1 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 88.9% ±4.2 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.7% ±3.8 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 McFarland?
Owners occupy 56.9% of McFarland's occupied homes and renters 43.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $272,700 by its owner (±$18,541). The median renter pays $1,131 a month including utilities, and 51.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | McFarland | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $272,700 ±$18,541 | $338,300 | +$62,251 |
| Median gross rent | $1,131 ±$42 | $1,300 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 51.4% ±10.9 pts | 48.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,448 ±$84 | $1,968 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 56.9% ±5.5 pts | 60.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 43.1% ±5.5 pts | 39.9% | – |
| Housing units | 3,757 ±270 | 306,999 | +390 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.7% ±1.9 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.8% ±4.5 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.0% ±2.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.7% ±1.0 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 18.5% ±4.8 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 5.7% ±2.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.0% ±3.3 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 McFarland building?
Builders took permits for 68 new housing units in McFarland in 2025 (66 in single-family houses), 4.6 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 McFarland work and get to work?
72.0% of McFarland's workers drive alone and 3.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.9%.
| Measure | McFarland | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.7% ±3.4 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% ±2.7 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 72.0% ±5.8 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 20.1% ±5.0 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 3.6% ±3.0 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.9% ±2.2 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.1 min ±3.0 | 24.4 min | +4.3 min |
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 McFarland?
3 census tracts lie mostly in McFarland, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $43,116 (Tract 47.02) to $61,769 (Tract 47.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 47.04Kern County | 6,271 | $61,769 |
| Tract 47.03Kern County | 4,636 | $61,615 |
| Tract 47.02Kern County | 3,863 | $43,116 |
| Tract 46.05Kern County | 3,674 | $100,881 |
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 McFarland) · Census block assignment files
How does McFarland compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, McFarland is the 2,430th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 327th-most populous of 483 in California.
McFarland ranks 932nd 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 | 327th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 83rd | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 561st | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 932nd | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 1,032nd | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 940th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 884th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 88th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 963rd | 988 |
| Median age | 1,043rd | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 754th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 805th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 771st | 1,069 |
McFarland's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare McFarland 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 McFarland?
13 of the 57 figures for McFarland on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are 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 McFarland 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 McFarland.