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Living in
Golden Hills.
Golden Hills is an unincorporated community in Kern County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Golden Hills
Golden Hills is a community of 10,445 people in California. The median household income is $95,669, median rent runs about $1,377 per month, and median home values are around $410,300. Unemployment sits at 9.0%, which is above the national average.
Golden Hills at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
37.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Foreign-Born
7.8%
Broadband Internet
94.2%
of households
Population Growth
+11.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Golden Hills: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Golden Hills, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (68.8%), and 16.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.0%
of residents
65 and Older
21.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.5%
of households
Married Couples
51.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.63
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 32% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Golden Hills
In Golden Hills, rent runs 32% below the CA average, and home values are 44% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
43.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,565
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.5 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Golden Hills and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Kern County, which includes Golden Hills, is 3.5 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Golden Hills: Kern County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kern County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Golden Hills is about 1% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Golden Hills 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
Commute33.1 min avg
How Golden Hills residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Golden Hills, most residents drive alone to work (79%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 38 mi
Meadows Field (BFL)
Regional airport · few flights219k passengers boarded in 2025
- 65 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 83 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 222% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Kern County Sheriff's Office, which covers Golden Hills, runs 222% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,060.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,068.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Kern County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 Golden Hills, 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.
159 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kern County, county-wide
Golden Hills is about 1% 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 Golden Hills, 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
Golden Hills is about 1% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate84°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Golden Hills has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/38°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
52°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.7"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
82
days below 32°F
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 32°F | 2.42" |
| Feb | 53°F | 31°F | 3.01" |
| Mar | 57°F | 34°F | 2.03" |
| Apr | 61°F | 37°F | 0.78" |
| May | 69°F | 44°F | 0.39" |
| Jun | 79°F | 52°F | 0.11" |
| Jul | 86°F | 58°F | 0.26" |
| Aug | 86°F | 57°F | 0.09" |
| Sep | 81°F | 51°F | 0.15" |
| Oct | 71°F | 43°F | 0.46" |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 0.92" |
| Dec | 51°F | 31°F | 2.11" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Golden Hills
Uninsured
5.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside Golden Hills's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Tehachapi
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education24.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Golden Hills
Golden Hills's student/teacher ratio is 24.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 30.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
30.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
24.2:1
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, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Golden Hills
Golden Hills has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being César E. Chávez National Monument (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
7 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
74 mi awayCities Near Golden Hills
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Golden Hills?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Golden Hills FAQ
Is Golden Hills, California affordable?⌄
Golden Hills's median rent is $1,377/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $95,669/year. Median home value is $410,300.
Is Golden Hills, California safe?⌄
Golden Hills is policed by the Kern County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 1060 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2069 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Golden Hills, California?⌄
Kern County, which includes Golden Hills, has an unemployment rate of 9.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Golden Hills, California?⌄
The cost of living in Golden Hills is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,377/month and median household income is $95,669/year. The median home value is $410,300. About 43% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Golden Hills, California?⌄
The average commute in Golden Hills is 33 minutes, which is 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