Bakersfield, CA, known as 'The Country Music Capital of the West Coast,' offers a unique blend of agricultural heritage and urban amenities. Located in southern California, Bakersfield is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Fresno and Los Angeles enhance its status as a central point in the region. Bakersfield's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.
Bakersfield is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Kern County Museum, the historic Fox Theater, and the scenic Panorama Park. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Bakersfield Museum of Art to the bustling downtown area, known for its dining and entertainment options. Bakersfield's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from farm-to-table cuisine to international dishes.
Annual events such as the Kern County Fair and the Bakersfield Jazz Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Bakersfield's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like California State University, Bakersfield contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.
The arts and culture scene in Bakersfield is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Buck Owens' Crystal Palace and the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Bakersfield provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.
Bakersfield’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) and the Bakersfield Train Robbers (Pecos League), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Bakersfield include agriculture, energy, and healthcare, with significant employers such as Grimmway Farms and Dignity Health driving economic growth. The city has public transit options, including buses, making commuting convenient.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Amenities
A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.
Commute
Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.
Cost Of Living
Based on the most recent cost of living data, this area is more expensive to live in. You can expect to pay more for everyday goods and services, housing, groceries and utilities.
Crime
This area is reporting high crime rates per 100,000 people and could signify that it is a dangerous place to live. Crime rates include both violent and property crimes.
Schools
Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.
Bakersfield is a big city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 390,909 people. More than a quarter of the residents of Bakersfield identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 34% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. With an average age of 31 years old, Bakersfield could be a great place to live for young adults as this age is well below the national average. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Bakersfield is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 23 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Bakersfield could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. To help you find the best places to live in and around Bakersfield, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like crime, cost of living, education, employment, housing and more.
With a livability score of 57 out of 100, Bakersfield is ranked #21,140 in the United States and #727 in California. Compared to the national average, this city has a score which ranks among the lowest in the nation, and it is not considered a very livable city. For each of the livability categories, we see that Bakersfield ranks very well for housing (A+). The bad news for Bakersfield, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), crime (F), cost of living (F) and education (D-).
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Bakersfield market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
Bakersfield real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Bakersfield. The median home price for Bakersfield homes is $474,604, which is 35.1% lower than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Bakersfield, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 4.8, which is 37.7% lower than the California average.
| Statistic | Bakersfield | California | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 28min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 82.0% | 73.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 10.7% | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.8% | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.8% | 2.7% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 4.5% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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