2024 Best Places to Live in Kern County

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.49 out of 5  94 reviews

Current Resident: As LGBTQ, I've never encountered issues in this town. I've witnessed it become more diverse. Before moving here, I read about it being conservative, but in my own experience I think it's a mix of conservative and liberals, and the social fabric is changing. I've been part of this community for 5 years and I love it. It has great investment potential.... Read 94 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 28,118

• Suburb of Bakersfield, CA

• •
  Rating 3.24 out of 5  134 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to live and great places to eat too. My favorite is Mountain Mike’s Pizza just around the corner... Read 134 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 4,562

• Suburb of Bakersfield, CA

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: rosedale is probably the safest part of bakersfield. the 99 cuts right along the side of it, making travel easy. there are many well funded schools, places of worship, and easy access grocery and goods stores. there are very few homeless here, and we are expanding to. there are new homes and new appartments being built near seventh standard road, so more people can experience this area. this is probably the best part of bakersfiled to live in... Read 5 reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• Population 19,174

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  21 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to live. Friendly and clean. Low smog. Deer everywhere. I love it here. Raising my two children here. Commute to work is fifteen minutes to the state facility I work at. It's nice and the payment for living is reasonable no matter how much or how little one makes.... Read 21 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B minus

• Population 9,892

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Former Resident: I love the fact there is no traffic. Lots of quiet open space. The weather is pretty hot in the summer, but it's tolerable. I would like to see more shopping options.... Read 1 review

• grade B minus

• grade B+

• Population 2,385

• City in California

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  1,310 reviews

Current Resident: My overall experience with Bakersfield is outstanding! My family and I moved in here about two or three years ago and I am loving it. I am happy with the choice my family made. I was born in Los Angeles, and I hated it. There was a lot of people and traffic. There is a lot of poor people as well and the city is not sanitary. Ever since I moved in here, the city is clean and there is no traffic at all. There are more opportunities in Bakersfield as well and the sports in here are more competitive which I love and enjoy. I love playing soccer and since I was a kid I loved playing in clubs. When I moved in here, from my experience with the sport, the competition in here is way high up than in LA. The coaches and players here in Bakersfield are more competitive and take the sport more serious. The coaches and the community are extremely respectful and committed to their passion. Bakersfield is a safe place where you can enjoy anything. I have gained a lot of new and exciting experience!... Read 1,310 reviews

• grade C+

• grade B

• Population 404,321

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Overall the community is very close and welcoming. Everyone knows everyone. Or, if you don't know them somebody you know knows them. The community events like the Christmas parade, Fourth of July fireworks, or even car shows are so much fun. Oildorado is probably the best event, bringing the whole town together for a month. My only problem would be that the town feels like it is dying out. Many old businesses have closed down and stores are left abandoned. we still have some grocery stores, dollar stores, and auto stores. But other shops that sell things like clothes or appliances are rare and don't last long. There also aren't a lot of things to do beside bowl or go to the movies. But beyond these things I love this town and wouldn't have wanted to grow up anywhere else.... Read 19 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C+

• Population 7,414

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.19 out of 5  53 reviews

Current Resident: I would like to see more food places and grocery stores and more activities for the kids and adults to do. More housing options for the homeless .... Read 53 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C+

• Population 20,654

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Shafter my whole life. I am currently 18 years old and have attended all my schooling in Shafter. I could not see myself going to any other schools besides the ones at Shafter. Shafter is a well-rounded, oriented community. Shafter is not just a place I call home; it is also a place where community is considered family.... Read 38 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C

• Population 20,162

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: loved it super great Community love it old people all that respectful people me being disabled really fits in in the area super nice super nice helpful people... Read 4 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C+

• Population 913

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  76 reviews

Current Resident: Even though Tehachapi is a small community, there is so much to do. There are small coffee shops, bakeries, and thrift stores that people go to support as well as go to many beautiful hiking trails, parks, and lakes. Another thing I love about living in Tehachapi is the people. People always seem to know each other and when you drive through a neighborhood and see a stranger walking by, they always wave to you or you wave to them. Lastly, I love the Tehachapi weather. Tehachapi is known as "The Land of Four Seasons" for a reason. It lives up to this statement. We get all the elements in their designated seasons which makes this place all the more special. We get snow in the winter, vibrant colors and crisp air in the Fall, wind and rain in the Spring, and bright hot sunny days in the Summer. Personally, I would not change anything about Tehachapi because I love the joys of a small community and we are not some huge tourist attraction. Rather, we are a hidden gem.... Read 76 reviews

• grade C

• grade B minus

• Population 12,855

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 2.67 out of 5  6 reviews

Niche User: I love this town that I was born and raised in. But on another scale I wish Taft was bigger so we had more to do in the small town. We are finally getting a new hotel, "Best Western" and soon to come more places to eat. Taft is not far for others places to go to, like the beach which is 1 1/2 to 2 hours away, and there's the mountains which is less or at the most about an hour away (depending on which way u go). Sometimes I wish Taft could get more snow in the winter! Love the winter and holiday time, especially being with family and friends. So other than that, Taft is a good places to raise families and meet new people and make new friends.... Read 6 reviews

• grade C

• grade B minus

• Population 1,638

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.11 out of 5  64 reviews

Visitor: Residents in California City enjoy a sparse suburban vibe, and the majority own their homes. California City has a large number of parks. California City has a large population of families and a conservative demographic.... Read 64 reviews

• grade C

• grade C

• Population 15,002

• Suburb of Bakersfield, CA

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  104 reviews

Current Resident: I like the small town vibe. Its easy to make friends. The schools are really great here. Traveling throughout the city is easy. Although it is a small town, there are job opportunities. I only have concerns regarding gang violence in our city.... Read 104 reviews

• grade C

• grade B+

• Population 50,498

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 2.3 out of 5  10 reviews

• grade C

• grade C

• Population 3,865

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to bring up a family or retire at. Cute town with homes in the $300,000 instead of $650,000+ with nice people living here and a low crime rate. I have lived here for 11 years and never had any problems. 45 min away from Valencia or Bakersfield. About an hr from Ventura.Great hiking areas .This is our little slice of heaven.... Read 6 reviews

• grade C minus

• grade C+

• Population 2,719

• Suburb of Bakersfield, CA

• •
  Rating 2.53 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Oildale my entire life 53 years and I've always felt safe and I never had to deal with theft until recently in The Last 5 Years the homeless situation has went crazy now they wander around at night breaking into cars stealing stuff off your porch sleeping everywhere and leaving trash worst thing is is most of the homeless came from other towns they sent them here since we had programs that could help... Read 38 reviews

• grade C minus

• grade C+

• Population 34,796

• Town in California

• grade C minus

• grade C+

• Population 4,357

• Suburb of Bakersfield, CA

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: It is a very small town. Everyone knows everyone. There is only one high school with is Greenfield High School and one middle school which is Vista Verde.... Read 20 reviews

• grade C minus

• grade B minus

• Population 4,417

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  64 reviews

Former Resident: I have lived here in Wasco, for the majority of my life and I can say that the town I'd say that I is a pretty good town. The parks are always a place I love to go to when I just want to be out and about. The people here have always been friendly. It is fairly small most of Wasco knows each other very well.... Read 64 reviews

• grade C minus

• grade C+

• Population 26,317

• Town in California

• grade C minus

• grade B minus

• Population 2,370

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  13 reviews

Current Resident: Just moved here July 2020 live here part time only good lake and river hiking fishing boating Snow just 20 minutes in winter time home prices good drugs not a good part but the larger city's worse lots off road trails 60 years old will retire here... Read 13 reviews

• grade D+

• grade C

• Population 3,514

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade D+

• grade C

• Population 2,320

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  27 reviews

Current Resident: I enjoy living in this town. I grew up my whole life in Arvin. The community is very supportive and rely on each other for anything. Even though, there is not much to do around here, I love it.... Read 27 reviews

• grade D+

• grade C+

• Population 19,613

• Town in California

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: I have proudly called McFarland my home for the past 12 years. From the moment we got here, we never moved away. McFarland has become the perfect home to be because of its great community. It's a place where all neighbors are friendly and supportive. This is a small town and the school systems here are all amazing. Each elementary school here works with one another to provide the utmost professionalism along with security. The middle school here provides amazing opportunities including preparatory courses for high school. The high school here is the perfect mix of high education and high sports. Although the fast food options here are limited the places located here are all great and it is located near a lot of agricultural work with little to no traffic in the area. McFarland has its very own movie that is great and highlights the amazing runners the town has had and continues to have.... Read 30 reviews

• grade D

• grade C minus

• Population 13,971