City · California
Shafter, California
Shafter, city, in Kern County, California. Shafter had 23,871 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 19.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 19,953 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 21,193 (±34). GEOID 0671106.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
23,871
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 19,953 · ACS 2020-2024: 21,193 ±34
Median household income
$71,215
±$7,458 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$335,800
±$19,713 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,253
±$150 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Shafter and what county is it in?
Shafter is a city in Kern County, California. It covers 38.7 square miles of land, 516 residents per square mile in 2020.
Shafter 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 Shafter, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 23,871 people lived in Shafter on July 1, 2025, up 19.7% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 19,953 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 21,193 (±34).
| Measure | Shafter | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 21,193 ±34 | 915,075 | +1,746 |
| Households | 5,677 ±307 | 284,931 | +596 |
| Average household size | 3.64 ±0.19 | 3.12 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,924 ±316 | 306,999 | +541 |
Shafter's population since 2000
From 12,736 in 2000 to 23,871 in 2025: up 87.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Shafter 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 Shafter?
The median resident of Shafter is 28.1 years old; 33.5% are under 18 and 7.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 80.6%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 14.8%. 23.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Shafter | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.1 ±1.1 | 32.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 33.5% ±2.7 pts | 28.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 7.5% ±1.4 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Male | 49.4% ±2.2 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 80.6% ±2.8 pts | 56.5% | −3.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 14.8% ±2.5 pts | 29.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.3% ±0.7 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.5% ±1.3 pts | 5.1% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 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 | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 23.7% ±3.0 pts | 20.2% | −5.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 59.1% ±4.9 pts | 45.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3% ±1.0 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 8.5% ±1.8 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.0% ±2.6 pts | 7.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 73.4% ±3.5 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 12.2% ±2.3 pts | 18.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.4% ±1.5 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.8% ±2.8 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.1% ±0.3 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 Shafter earn?
Half of Shafter's 5,677 households earn less than $71,215 a year (±$7,458), against $70,210 in Kern County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $56,432 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $14,783 after inflation. 20.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shafter | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,215 ±$7,458 | $70,210 | +$14,783 |
| Mean household income | $87,888 ±$7,127 | $93,147 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,156 ±$1,747 | $29,699 | +$4,320 |
| People below the poverty line | 20.7% ±4.1 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 26.4% ±7.7 pts | 25.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.2% ±4.0 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.5% ±3.6 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.9% ±4.0 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 Shafter?
Owners occupy 64.7% of Shafter's occupied homes and renters 35.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $335,800 by its owner (±$19,713). The median renter pays $1,253 a month including utilities, and 43.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shafter | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $335,800 ±$19,713 | $338,300 | +$120,059 |
| Median gross rent | $1,253 ±$150 | $1,300 | +$185 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 43.3% ±10.4 pts | 48.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,015 ±$133 | $1,968 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.7% ±5.5 pts | 60.1% | +9.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.3% ±5.5 pts | 39.9% | – |
| Housing units | 5,924 ±316 | 306,999 | +541 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±4.3 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 81.3% ±3.2 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.4% ±3.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 11.0% ±2.1 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.2% ±2.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 7.8% ±3.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.0% ±3.2 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 Shafter building?
Builders took permits for 452 new housing units in Shafter in 2025 (452 in single-family houses), 18.9 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 Shafter work and get to work?
81.0% of Shafter's workers drive alone and 4.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 23.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.8%.
| Measure | Shafter | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.4% ±2.4 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.8% ±1.5 pts | 8.6% | −3.3 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 81.0% ±3.7 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.4% ±2.8 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.4% ±1.7 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 23.3 min ±1.6 | 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 Shafter?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Shafter, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $39,167 (Tract 41.02) to $68,846 (Tract 40.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 41.01Kern County | 5,953 | $67,583 |
| Tract 41.02Kern County | 4,680 | $39,167 |
| Tract 40.02Kern County | 3,792 | $68,846 |
| Tract 39Kern County | 5,768 | $116,484 |
| Tract 40.01Kern County | 4,167 | $78,750 |
| Tract 66Kern County | 4,637 | $69,138 |
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 Shafter) · Census block assignment files
How does Shafter compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Shafter is the 1,673rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 280th-most populous of 483 in California.
Shafter ranks 781st 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 | 280th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 3rd | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 876th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 781st | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 926th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 866th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 817th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 132nd | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 870th | 988 |
| Median age | 1,021st | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 565th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 794th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 811th | 1,069 |
Shafter's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Shafter 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 Shafter?
8 of the 57 figures for Shafter 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 Shafter 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 Shafter.