Kern County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$70,210$5,851 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Kern County, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Kern County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Bakersfield-Delano, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,132 | $13,584 | $45,280 | 19.3% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,140 | $13,680 | $45,600 | 19.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,483 | $17,796 | $59,320 | 25.3% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,062 | $24,744 | $82,480 | 35.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,488 | $29,856 | $99,520 | 42.5% |
What a typical income covers in Kern County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $70,210 a year ($5,851 a month before tax).
What $70,210 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Kern County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Kern County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Kern County, CA is $70,210 per year (approximately $5,851 per month).
What is the average rent in Kern County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,132 for a studio, $1,140 for one bedroom, $1,483 for two, $2,062 for three and $2,488 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Kern County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 0.9% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 100.9, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Kern County, CA?
To keep a $1,483 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $59,320 a year, or $4,943 a month. That is 84% of what the typical household in Kern County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Kern County, CA?
On the local median income of $70,210 ($5,851 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,925 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,755 for everything else and $1,170 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,483 takes 51% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Kern County, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.