Bakersfield, CA: Local News, Events & Neighbors

Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about 151 sq mi (390 km2) near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population in the 2020 Census was 403,455, making it the 47th-most populous city in the United States and the 9th-most populous in California. The Bakersfield–Delano Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Kern County, had a 2020 census population of 909,235, making it the 62nd largest metropolitan area in the United States. Bakersfield is a significant hub for both agriculture and energy production. Kern County is California's most productiv…

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From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Bakersfield ranks

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#89Fastest growing in CA #170Most affordable in CA #195Cheapest rent in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code93301, 93302, 93303

Area code661

Living in Bakersfield

Housing in Bakersfield

$388K≈ same as a year ago Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Bakersfield home is worth about $388,000, about the same as a year ago, 49% below the California typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market31

Sale-to-list99.4%

Sold in May314

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Bakersfield

D

Safety Grade D

Bakersfield reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 91% report less. Compared with places its own size, it does better than 30%.

Violent crime per 1,000

Bakersfield 4.9

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Bakersfield 22.3

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Bakersfield

Compared with California

1better than CA·16worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 3▼ 8 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 4▼ 3 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

5.6%Fewer adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · better 11.5%More adults facing a utility shut-offCA 7.3% · worse

Care nearby

Mercy HospitalBakersfield · 1.5 mi · ER

Family Health CenterBakersfield · 1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · part of Bakersfield

DentalShortage · part of Bakersfield

Mental healthShortage · part of Bakersfield

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Bakersfield · CMS · HRSAHealth in Bakersfield →

Schools in Bakersfield

All Bakersfield schools →

A

School Grade A

The public schools Bakersfield’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 90% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#242Best public schoolsof 574 in CA

DistrictKern HighSchools122

Grow Public SchoolsElementary · Grades K–8 · 1,446 students Dolores S. Whitley TK-8Elementary · Grades K–8 · 1,151 students Veterans ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 1,002 students Douglas J. Miller ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 994 students Colonel Howard Nichols ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 960 students Berkshire ElementaryElementary · Grades K–6 · 932 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.

Famous people from BakersfieldWriters, athletes, leaders and more who were born in Bakersfield.Meet them →