Bakersfield is a city located in Kern County California. Bakersfield has a 2024 population of 416,081. It is also the county seat of Kern County. Bakersfield is currently growing at a rate of 0.65% annually and its population has increased by 2.67% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 405,280 in 2020.
The average household income in Bakersfield is $99,270 with a poverty rate of 16.53%. The median age in Bakersfield is 31.5 years: 30.5 years for males, and 32.4 years for females.
There are two interesting statistics about the population of Bakersfield. Multiple studies have found that it is one of the least educated metro areas in the country, having one of the lowest populations of adults with bachelor’s degrees when compared to other metropolitan areas. The city was ranked as one of the most obese metro areas in the US, with over 33% of inhabitants classified as obese, exceeding the national average of 26.5%.
Bakersfield has seen steady growth throughout its history, with each 10-year census reflecting increase since 1990. The highest rate of growth was recorded between the 1880 and 1890 censuses – over 227% growth recorded during this time. While the population has not grown at such a rapid rate, double-digit percentage growths have been observed every ten years. The population in 2016 was already up over 8% from the census data taken in 2010. Based on the past growth of this city, the population is only expected to continue to grow and will soon hit the next milestone of 400,000 residents.
Bakersfield history dates back thousands of years. However, it was first explored by the Europeans in 1776. It wasn’t until the discovery of oil and gold that the city became settled. The original settlement was washed away in floods in the 1860s and was moved in 1863. By the 1870s, the settlement had a population of several hundred people. It was incorporated as a city in 1873 and the following year was designated as the county seat.
Throughout the 1800s, the city’s population continued to grow. Many people moved to Bakersfield from states including Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, as well as other cities in California, due to the employment opportunities offered within the oil industry. The city’s population has continued to grow, and it has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. Not only does it still have a thriving oil industry, but it is also a regional transportation hub. The city has lots to do for both tourists and residents, including annual events, historic restaurants and landmarks, and multiple theaters.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Bakersfield was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
|---|---|---|
| White | 213,475 | 52.8% |
| Two or more races | 67,716 | 16.75% |
| Other race | 61,474 | 15.2% |
| Asian | 30,504 | 7.54% |
| Black or African American | 25,810 | 6.38% |
| Native American | 4,219 | 1.04% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 1,123 | 0.28% |
White
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Black or African American
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 124,744 | 3.2 | 60.2 | 39.8 |
| Married | 63,769 | 3.86 | 74.8 | 25.2 |
| Non Family | 30,592 | 1.3 | 45.2 | 54.8 |
| Female | 21,343 | 3.83 | 42.1 | 57.9 |
| Male | 9,040 | 3.47 | 51 | 49 |
3.68
Average Family Size
3.2
Average Household Size
60.2%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 9th to 12th Grade | 22,368 | 9.18% |
| Associates Degree | 20,836 | 8.55% |
| Bachelors Degree | 37,114 | 15.23% |
| Graduate Degree | 19,627 | 8.05% |
| High School Graduate | 60,846 | 24.97% |
| Less Than 9th Grade | 22,508 | 9.24% |
| Some College | 60,404 | 24.79% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 113,229 | 79,420 | 14,914 |
| White | 86,653 | 81,016 | 26,961 |
| 2+ Races | 36,239 | 27,852 | 7,126 |
| Other Race | 34,103 | 23,402 | 4,025 |
| Asian | 20,656 | 17,844 | 9,273 |
| Black | 15,250 | 13,176 | 3,418 |
| Native American | 2,764 | 1,979 | 341 |
| Islander | 609 | 588 | 95 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 96.55%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 44.89%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelors Degree | $64,998 | $77,695 | $54,988 |
| Graduate Degree | $96,511 | $110,976 | $88,330 |
| High School Graduate | $38,029 | $44,975 | $28,830 |
| Less Than 9th Grade | $28,067 | $33,689 | $20,384 |
| Overall | $44,507 | $52,929 | $36,037 |
| Some College | $41,808 | $54,195 | $33,492 |
$44,507
Average Earnings
$52,929
Average Male
$36,037
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
57.3% of Bakersfield residents speak only English, while 42.7% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 34.33% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 212,592 | 38,468 | 18.09% |
| White | 118,799 | 14,623 | 12.31% |
| Other | 60,871 | 12,429 | 20.42% |
| Multiple | 67,331 | 10,122 | 15.03% |
| Black | 25,397 | 6,973 | 27.46% |
| Asian | 30,328 | 3,493 | 11.52% |
| Native | 4,173 | 722 | 17.3% |
| Islander | 1,122 | 138 | 12.3% |
16.53%
Overall Poverty Rate
14.45%
Male Poverty Rate
18.59%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Bakersfield is Black, with 27.46% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Bakersfield is Asian, with 11.52% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.51%. Among those working part-time, it was 14.79%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.43%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Less Than 9th Grade | 24.81% |
| High School | 14.73% |
| Some College | 12.14% |
| Bachelors or Greater | 5.26% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
|---|---|
| Female Unemployed | 32.91% |
| Male Unemployed | 26.35% |
| Female Employed | 8.43% |
| Male Employed | 5.71% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Families | $81,672 | $108,359 |
| Households | $73,827 | $99,270 |
| Married Families | $102,791 | $131,014 |
| Non Families | $42,500 | $59,209 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
46.5%
Overall Marriage Rate
48.6%
Male Marriage Rate
44.5%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
13,454
Number of Veterans
12,370
Male Veterans
1,084
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
|---|---|
| Vietnam | 4,103 |
| Second Gulf War | 3,232 |
| First Gulf War | 2,986 |
| Korea | 674 |
| World War II | 194 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
|---|---|
| 35 to 54 | 3,178 |
| 65 to 74 | 2,944 |
| 75+ | 2,783 |
| 55 to 64 | 2,774 |
| 18 to 34 | 1,775 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 8,851 | 5.79% |
| Hispanic | 3,654 | 2.64% |
| 2+ Races | 1,420 | 3.24% |
| Black | 1,399 | 7.55% |
| Other Race | 1,010 | 2.45% |
| Asian | 580 | 2.52% |
| Native American | 147 | 4.6% |
| Islander | 47 | 6.5% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
9.49%
Veteran Poverty Rate
30.63%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
63.1%
Labor Force Participation
58.6%
Employment Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
68.26%
Born in Bakersfield
80.36%
Native Born
19.64%
Foreign Born
10.26%
Non Citizen
9.38%
Naturalized
80.36% of Bakersfield residents were born in the United States, with 68.26% having been born in California. 10.26% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 429,582 | 2,700 | 0.63% |
| 2028 | 426,882 | 2,700 | 0.64% |
| 2027 | 424,182 | 2,701 | 0.64% |
| 2026 | 421,481 | 2,700 | 0.64% |
| 2025 | 418,781 | 2,700 | 0.65% |
| 2024 | 416,081 | 2,700 | 0.65% |
| 2023 | 413,381 | 1,112 | 0.27% |
| 2022 | 412,269 | 2,487 | 0.61% |
| 2021 | 409,782 | 4,502 | 1.11% |
| 2020 | 405,280 | 22,598 | 5.91% |
| 2019 | 382,682 | 2,767 | 0.73% |
| 2018 | 379,915 | 2,745 | 0.73% |
| 2017 | 377,170 | 3,086 | 0.82% |
| 2016 | 374,084 | 3,213 | 0.87% |
| 2015 | 370,871 | 4,198 | 1.14% |
| 2014 | 366,673 | 4,607 | 1.27% |
| 2013 | 362,066 | 5,064 | 1.42% |
| 2012 | 357,002 | 4,572 | 1.3% |
| 2011 | 352,430 | 3,670 | 1.05% |
| 2010 | 348,760 | 0 | 0% |
| 2000 | 247,057 | 72,237 | 41.32% |
| 1990 | 174,820 | 69,209 | 65.53% |
| 1980 | 105,611 | 36,096 | 51.93% |
| 1970 | 69,515 | 12,667 | 22.28% |
| 1960 | 56,848 | 22,064 | 63.43% |
| 1950 | 34,784 | 5,532 | 18.91% |
| 1940 | 29,252 | 3,237 | 12.44% |
| 1930 | 26,015 | 7,377 | 39.58% |
| 1920 | 18,638 | 5,911 | 46.44% |
| 1910 | 12,727 | 7,891 | 163.17% |
| 1900 | 4,836 | 2,210 | 84.16% |
| 1890 | 2,626 | 1,825 | 227.84% |
| 1880 | 801 | -428,781 | -99.81% |