Kern County, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Kern County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 905,584 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 110.9 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.63% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 33.8 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 281,409 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Kern County grew by 16.6% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 910,418 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Kern County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Kern County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,683 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.50% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.3% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Kern County is about 30% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Kern County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $276,553 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,219 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 59.8% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Kern County is about 18.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,219 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Kern County spend about 41 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 171 hours, about 7.1 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Kern County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 20.5 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 41.0 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 171 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,293 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 8,144 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,423 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
California:
Inyo County (11.2 min), Del Norte County (11.7 min), Modoc County (11.8 min).
Slowest:
Contra Costa County (31.2 min), San Benito County (31.0 min), Alpine County (30.4 min).
The average commute time in Kern County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Kern County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Kern County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 3.15 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
California:
Marin County (0.5), San Francisco County (0.4), Santa Clara County (0.4).
Lowest:
Colusa County (0.2), Merced County (0.2), Glenn County (0.2).
Health
Kern County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Kern County | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 76.7 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 21.5% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 16.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
California:
San Francisco County (0.8), San Mateo County (0.8), Santa Clara County (0.8).
Lowest:
Lake County (0.8), Imperial County (0.8), Tulare County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Kern County, California.
What is the population of Kern County, California?
The population of Kern County, California is 905,584, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Kern County, California?
The population density of Kern County, California is 110.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Kern County, California?
The median household income in Kern County, California is $67,683, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Kern County, California?
The median home price in Kern County, California is $276,553, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Kern County, California?
The unemployment rate in Kern County, California is 8.3%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.