United States › California › Bakersfield CITY · 2020 ACS
Bakersfield California · 403,455 residents · 150 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Bakersfield is home to 403,455 people in California. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 156,398 people. The median age is 32.4, younger than the US median of 38.8. 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. That trails the California median by roughly 17%. 19% of residents were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
23% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 66%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
151K 222K 293K 365K 436K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Bakersfield Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $65,687
+9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,982 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $17,678 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 33.3% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 18.0% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.8%
Public administration 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.4%
Education & health services 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$258,700
+66%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $103,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,124
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $564 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 60.5% in 2000
40.8% rent
from 3.05 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.1 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 51.1%(126,183)
Hispanic / Latino 32.5%(80,170)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 28.8%(116,311)
Hispanic / Latino 52.7%(212,822)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 9 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 6 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data from 19.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 75.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.4% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 14.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 65.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 30.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 17.4% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 41.6%(63,497)
Women 15+
Never married 36.7%(58,979)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 20.8%(2,697)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.9%(2,703)
Share of the 12,956 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Explore
Neighborhoods in Bakersfield Drill deeper
Places similar to Bakersfield Head to head
Compare Bakersfield to nearby cities BAKERSFIELD VS
La Cresta
Income $49,605 −24%
Home value $262,000 +1%
Population 8,389 −98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAKERSFIELD VS
East Bakersfield
Income $38,644 −41%
Home value $208,700 −19%
Population 11,062 −97%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAKERSFIELD VS
Potomac Park
Income $51,166 −22%
Home value $219,600 −15%
Population 10,138 −98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
BAKERSFIELD VS
Hillcrest
Income $46,285 −30%
Home value $272,700 +5%
Population 10,511 −98%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Bakersfield, California? Bakersfield, California has about 403,455 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Bakersfield, California? The typical household in Bakersfield, California earns about $65,687 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Bakersfield, California expensive? In Bakersfield, California, the median home is worth about $258,700, and the typical rent is about $1,124 a month.
How educated are people in Bakersfield, California? About 22.6% of adults age 25 and over in Bakersfield, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Bakersfield, California? About 17.2% of people in Bakersfield, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Bakersfield, California grown since 1990? Yes, Bakersfield, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 228,635 residents, a change of about 131 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 