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Living in
Oildale.
Oildale 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 Oildale
If you're considering Oildale, know that you're looking at an affordable suburban community where you can actually buy a home or rent without breaking the bank—median home values around $239,000 and rents averaging $1,281 a month are genuinely manageable for the region. The downside is that the local economy is tied heavily to oil and gas, which means job prospects can be limited and unemployment runs noticeably higher than the national average at 8.7%. You'll find a young, family-oriented community with nearly 29% of residents under 18, and the area has a solid Latino community presence alongside a white majority.
Oildale at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
25.2%
Foreign-Born
8.2%
Broadband Internet
92.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics8.2% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Oildale: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oildale, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (56.1%), and 18.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
25.8%
of residents
65 and Older
13.0%
of residents
Households with Kids
30.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
29.6%
of households
Married Couples
34.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
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 37% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Oildale
In Oildale, rent runs 37% below the CA average, and home values are 67% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,451
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
40.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $287,210 (May 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 3.5 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Oildale and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Kern County, which includes Oildale, is 3.5 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Oildale: Kern County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Kern County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Oildale is about 4% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Oildale 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
Commute23.3 min avg
How Oildale residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oildale, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Meadows Field (BFL)
Regional airport · few flights219k passengers boarded in 2025
- 92 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 108 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 Oildale, 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 Oildale, 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.
160 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kern County, county-wide
Oildale is about 4% 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 Oildale, 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
Oildale is about 4% of Kern County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate95°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oildale has hot summers (avg high 95°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
95°/68°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
60°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
6.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
110
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
17
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
33
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 39°F | 1.27" |
| Feb | 64°F | 41°F | 1.28" |
| Mar | 69°F | 45°F | 1.24" |
| Apr | 75°F | 49°F | 0.62" |
| May | 83°F | 57°F | 0.32" |
| Jun | 91°F | 64°F | 0.01" |
| Jul | 97°F | 70°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 96°F | 69°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 91°F | 64°F | 0.11" |
| Oct | 80°F | 54°F | 0.22" |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 0.53" |
| Dec | 59°F | 38°F | 1.03" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oildale
Oildale has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
Good Samaritan Hospital, Lp
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.1 mi away · Bakersfield
Adventist Health Bakersfield
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Bakersfield
Mercy Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.2 mi away · Bakersfield
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.
Education21.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oildale
Oildale's student/teacher ratio is 21.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 12.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
12.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Oildale (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 17,280 students · in-state tuition $1,450 · 26% graduate · median earnings $41,011 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Bakersfield
6.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 8,577 students · in-state tuition $8,496 · 66% graduate · median earnings $62,381 (10 yrs after entry)
Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield
5.6 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 493 students · 46% graduate · median earnings $46,721 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: César E. Chávez National Monument, 29 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oildale
Oildale has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being César E. Chávez National Monument (29 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
29 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
92 mi awaySequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
National Parks
93 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oildale
Rathbun Branch Library
200 W. China Grade Loop, Bakersfield
Cities Near Oildale
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oildale?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oildale FAQ
Is Oildale, California affordable?⌄
Oildale's median rent is $1,281/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $51,298/year. Median home value is $238,800.
Is Oildale, California safe?⌄
Oildale 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 Oildale, California?⌄
Kern County, which includes Oildale, has an unemployment rate of 9.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oildale, California?⌄
The cost of living in Oildale is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,281/month and median household income is $51,298/year. The median home value is $238,800. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oildale, California?⌄
The average commute in Oildale is 23 minutes, which is about 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