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Living in
California City.
About
Life in California City
Life here revolves around a specific kind of work and a specific kind of lifestyle that doesn't fit everyone, but works well for those it does. Edwards Air Force Base, located 18 miles away, anchors the local economy and brings a steady stream of military and aerospace workers to the area. That said, the unemployment rate hovers around 9.0%, so the job market isn't a given; you'll want to know your position is lined up before relocating.
California City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
22.8%
Foreign-Born
14.1%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
-11.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in California City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In California City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (48.8%), and 29.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.0%
of households
Married Couples
39.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.80
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 36% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in California City
In California City, rent runs 36% below the CA average, and home values are 62% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
42.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,027
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Vacant Homes
12.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $270,842 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.5 pts above CA average
Unemployment in California City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Kern County, which includes California City, is 3.5 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
California City: Kern County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kern County (county-wide) · Annual averages
California City is about 2% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What California City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Bakersfield, CA metro area
Commute43.3 min avg
How California City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In California City, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 40% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 69 mi
Meadows Field (BFL)
Regional airport · few flights219k passengers boarded in 2025
- 71 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 89 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 57% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in California City runs 57% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
517.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,420.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
California City Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 60 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
98.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kern County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kern County, which includes California City, the most common type is high wind, with 60 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | High Wind | $50,500 |
| 2024 | 110 | High Wind | $117,500 |
| 2023 | 90 | High Wind | $76,000 |
| 2022 | 92 | High Wind | $132,000 |
| 2021 | 48 | Dense Fog | $12,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Flood | None reported |
| 2019 | 28 | Flood | $181,000 |
| 2018 | 10 | Flood | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
178 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kern County, county-wide
California City is about 2% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality70 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kern County, which includes California City, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
70
Good Days
64
per year
Moderate Days
236
per year
Unhealthy Days
4
per year
Kern County, county-wide
California City is about 2% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 33°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
California City has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 33°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/33°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
5.8"
Annual Snowfall
1.2"
Hot Days/Year
110
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
40
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
20
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 33°F | 1.08" |
| Feb | 60°F | 35°F | 1.49" |
| Mar | 67°F | 40°F | 0.80" |
| Apr | 72°F | 45°F | 0.21" |
| May | 81°F | 53°F | 0.13" |
| Jun | 91°F | 64°F | 0.03" |
| Jul | 97°F | 69°F | 0.18" |
| Aug | 97°F | 67°F | 0.17" |
| Sep | 90°F | 61°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 78°F | 49°F | 0.42" |
| Nov | 66°F | 39°F | 0.34" |
| Dec | 57°F | 32°F | 0.81" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in California City
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Education25.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in California City
California City's student/teacher ratio is 25.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 12.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
25.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: César E. Chávez National Monument, 39 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for California City
California City has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being César E. Chávez National Monument (39 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
39 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
89 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
96 mi awayPublic Libraries in California City
California City Branch Library
9507 California City Blvd., California City
Cities Near California City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to California City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
California City FAQ
Is California City, California affordable?⌄
California City's median rent is $1,300/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $60,113/year. Median home value is $278,000.
Is California City, California safe?⌄
California City's violent crime rate was 518 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1420 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in California City, California?⌄
Kern County, which includes California City, has an unemployment rate of 9.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in California City, California?⌄
The cost of living in California City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,300/month and median household income is $60,113/year. The median home value is $278,000. About 64% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in California City, California?⌄
The average commute in California City is 43 minutes, which is significantly longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from