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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Kern County

California · 909,235 residents · 8,134.673 sq mi
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The short version

Kern County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $54,851. Population has grown 37% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 33%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $226,600. At a median age of 32.8, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 30% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 32.8
US median: 38.8
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 69%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
909,235
+37%since 2000
from 661,645 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
112 / sq mi
+37%since 2000
from 81 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
32.8
+7%since 2000
from 30.6 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
506K618K729K841K952K1990201020202024Kern County
2024915K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$54,851
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,446 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,855
+51%since 2000
from $15,760 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
36.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 28.9% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
20.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 20.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing14.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction11.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Information10.5%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance6.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Retail trade5.4%
US avg: 10%
Professional, scientific, technical5.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Manufacturing3%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing2.7%
US avg: 2.5%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services1%
US avg: 0.8%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$226,600
+69%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$994
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $518 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
59.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 62.1% in 2000
40.8% rent
Afford Score
4.1
+64%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Kern County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic49.5%(327,190)
Black5.7%(37,845)
Hispanic / Latino38.4%(254,036)
Asian3.2%(21,177)
Other0%
Diversity Score72.1%(477,064)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic30.8%(279,600)
Black5.1%(46,776)
Hispanic / Latino54.9%(499,158)
Asian4.9%(44,257)
Other3.2%(28,875)
Diversity Score73.6%(668,873)
Segregation Score48.9%(444,791)
Diversity Score
74
+2%since 2000
from 72 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
49
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+3.6 ptssince 2000
from 13.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
75.3%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 68.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
5.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2000
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.6 min
+50%since 2000
from 15.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
80.1%
+5.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.0% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
6.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.1%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 12.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
58.0%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 59.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
28.2%
−27.6 ptssince 2009
from 55.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 51.7% in 2009
Female
48.8%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.3% in 2009
Foreign born
19.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 19.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
7.7%
−72.1 ptssince 2013
from 79.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Kern County

Pinellas County
Pop 948,563
Erie County
Pop 946,741
Pima County
Pop 1,074,685
Jefferson County
Pop 795,222
Places similar to Kern County
Head to head

Compare Kern County to nearby counties

KERN COUNTY VS
Tulare County
Income$71,300+30%
Home value$330,100+46%
Population485,146−48%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KERN COUNTY VS
Ventura County
Income$109,797+100%
Home value$822,700+263%
Population830,851−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KERN COUNTY VS
Kings County
Income$70,995+29%
Home value$324,300+43%
Population154,327−83%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
KERN COUNTY VS
Los Angeles County
Income$90,112+64%
Home value$834,200+268%
Population9,694,934+946%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Kern County, California?

Kern County, California has about 909,235 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Kern County, California?

The typical household in Kern County, California earns about $54,851 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 $226,600, and the typical rent is about $994 a month.

How educated are people in Kern County, California?

About 17.1% 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 20.4% 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 365,758 residents, a change of about 67 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

236 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 32.20Census Tract 48.02Census Tract 38.14Census Tract 62.02Census Tract 32.08Census Tract 28.20Census Tract 32.18Census Tract 32.12Census Tract 35Census Tract 28.16Census Tract 47.04Census Tract 31.12Census Tract 46.07Census Tract 58.04Census Tract 12.02Census Tract 38.06Census Tract 38.15Census Tract 32.21Census Tract 41.01Census Tract 60.03
47 ZIP codes (top 30 by population)
ZIP 93307ZIP 93306ZIP 93309ZIP 93313ZIP 93312ZIP 93311ZIP 93308ZIP 93215ZIP 93304ZIP 93305ZIP 93314ZIP 93555ZIP 93561ZIP 93280ZIP 93263ZIP 93560ZIP 93203ZIP 93268ZIP 93250ZIP 93241ZIP 93505ZIP 93301ZIP 93501ZIP 93240ZIP 93523ZIP 93581ZIP 93285ZIP 93516ZIP 93222ZIP 93283
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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