United States › California › Kern County COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS
Kern County California · 661,645 residents · 8,135 sq mi
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The short version
Kern County is a county of 661,645 people in California. This skews young, with a median age of 30.6. About 14% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The poverty rate is 20.8%, above the 12.4% national rate. That trails the California median by roughly 25%. The population is up 22% since 1990.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.6
US median: 35.2
Less educated
14% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 18%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 29.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
506K 618K 729K 841K 952K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Kern County Age distribution, 2000
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Section 02
Income & economy $35,446
−6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $28,634 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $12,154 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 16.9% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$89,400
−18%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $82,400 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$518
−11%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $440 in 1990
US average: $602
from 59.3% in 1990
37.9% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 69.8%(379,583)
Hispanic / Latino 27.7%(150,558)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 49.5%(327,190)
Hispanic / Latino 38.4%(254,036)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 11 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 47 more ancestry groups with data from 13.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 67.6% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 4.2% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 18.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 26.7%(66,193)
Women 15+
Never married 23.1%(54,741)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 20.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 44.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 8.3% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 39.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 51.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 48.7% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 32.6%(10,371)
Gulf War (1990s) 22.6%(7,186)
Share of the 31,813 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Kern County Head to head
Compare Kern County to nearby counties KERN COUNTY VS
Tulare County
Income $71,300 +101%
Home value $330,100 +269%
Population 485,146 −48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KERN COUNTY VS
Ventura County
Income $109,797 +210%
Home value $822,700 +820%
Population 830,851 −10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KERN COUNTY VS
Kings County
Income $70,995 +100%
Home value $324,300 +263%
Population 154,327 −83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KERN COUNTY VS
Los Angeles County
Income $90,112 +154%
Home value $834,200 +833%
Population 9,694,934 +946%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Kern County, California? Kern County, California has about 661,645 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Kern County, California? The typical household in Kern County, California earns about $35,446 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Kern County, California expensive? In Kern County, California, the median home is worth about $89,400, and the typical rent is about $518 a month.
How educated are people in Kern County, California? About 13.5% of adults age 25 and over in Kern County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Kern County, California? About 20.8% of people in Kern County, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Kern County, California grown since 1990? Yes, Kern County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 118,168 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.
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