State rank#11 of 58
Smallest county915,075 residentsLos Angeles County
Published county profile · Official data · FIPS 06029
Kern County, California
County-level income, housing, jobs, education, health, and population with transparent statewide comparisons and source periods.
Population915,075
Household income$70,210
Unemployment8.6%
Life expectancy74.2 years
County overview
Living metrics at a glance
Kern County has 915,075 residents and ranks #11 by population among California county equivalents. Median household income is $70,210. The annual-average unemployment rate is 8.6%. Its clearest relative strength is median home value. Its county population is above the state county median. Every figure below stays at county scope.
Within California
County population range
The marker places this county between the smallest and largest county populations in the state.
Relocation guide
Moving to Kern County: what to check
Data narrows the search; municipality, neighborhood, commute, schools, and current listings complete the decision.
Before moving
Before moving, compare municipalities inside Kern County, because county averages do not describe every neighborhood. Review current housing inventory, commute destinations, school districts, healthcare access, and job locations. Its clearest relative strength is median home value.
Cost and housing
Housing benchmarks are $338,300 median home value and $1,300/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $70,210, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
Who it may suit
Kern County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median home value, median gross rent, and uninsured. College attainment is 18.8% and life expectancy is 74.2 years.
Potential advantages
- Median home value: $338,300, rank #10 of 58 available California counties.
- Median gross rent: $1,300/mo, rank #14 of 56 available California counties.
- Uninsured: 7.7%, rank #40 of 58 available California counties.
Trade-offs to check
- Life expectancy: 74.2 years, rank #54 of 57; investigate local variation before moving.
- Poor or fair health: 25.5%, rank #54 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
- Unemployment rate: 8.6%, rank #52 of 58; investigate local variation before moving.
Income, housing, jobs, education & health
County metrics within California
Rank and range use only counties in California with that field available. A lower rank number is stronger when the metric has a clear direction.
Median household income
$70,210
$70,210; below the state county median of $83,473.
State rank #42 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median home value
$338,300
$338,300; below the state county median of $481,100.
State rank #10 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Median gross rent
$1,300/mo
$1,300/mo; below the state county median of $1,624/mo.
State rank #14 of 56 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Unemployment rate
8.6%
8.6%; above the state county median of 5.5%.
State rank #52 of 58 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Bachelor’s degree or higher
18.8%
18.8%; below the state county median of 25.7%.
State rank #48 of 58 · U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey
Life expectancy
74.2 years
74.2 years; below the state county median of 78.2 years.
State rank #54 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Poor or fair health
25.5%
25.5%; above the state county median of 18.4%.
State rank #54 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Uninsured
7.7%
7.7%; above the state county median of 7.3%.
State rank #40 of 58 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Primary care access
1 per 2,090 residents
1 per 2,090 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 1,459 residents.
State rank #40 of 57 · County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Mental health access
1 per 393 residents
1 per 393 residents; above the state county median of 1 per 247 residents.
State rank #46 of 58 · County Health Rankings & RoadmapsCommon questions
Kern County FAQ
Is Kern County a good place to live?
Kern County may be worth a closer look for movers prioritizing median home value, median gross rent, and uninsured. College attainment is 18.8% and life expectancy is 74.2 years.
What should I know before moving to Kern County?
Start with housing, employment, commute, schools, healthcare access, and the specific municipality. Housing benchmarks are $338,300 median home value and $1,300/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $70,210, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the population of Kern County?
Kern County has 915,075 residents in the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year dataset.
What is the FIPS code for Kern County?
The five-digit county FIPS code is 06029; the parent state FIPS is 06.
What is the median household income in Kern County?
The ACS median household income is $70,210.
How much does housing cost in Kern County?
Housing benchmarks are $338,300 median home value and $1,300/mo median gross rent. Set those costs against a median household income of $70,210, while remembering that household circumstances and municipalities vary.
What is the unemployment rate in Kern County?
The BLS LAUS annual-average unemployment rate is 8.6%.
Similar population
Nearby counties in the state ranking
Source and gate
Methodology and source periods
All records join by five-digit FIPS. Profiles publish when ACS county population is at least 100,000 or the county is the state’s largest. Missing source values remain unavailable and are excluded from ranks. Runtime data was generated 2026-07-26.
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