Kern County
CA · Pop. 910,433 · Mixed County
Kern County sits in California across 8,135 square miles, home to 910,433 people at 111.9 per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, haylage, carrots. A median home price of $311,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.91% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 322-day growing season, average summer highs of 94.7°F and average winter lows of 37.6°F. Annual rainfall averages 8 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Kern Medical Center is 13.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 97.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 322-day growing season in USDA zone 9b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.91% holds annual carrying costs down.
- Broadband reaches 97.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- A strong agricultural economy built on hay, haylage, carrots means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- Annual rainfall of just 8 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- A poverty rate of 19% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Kern County, CA is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 24/100
- Median home price
- $311k
- Property tax
- 0.91%
- Growing season
- 322 days (zone 9b)
- Annual rainfall
- 8"
- Broadband
- 97.5%
- Nearest hospital
- Kern Medical Center, 13.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Kern County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Kern County?
- Kern County is in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 322-day growing season, average summer highs of 94.7°F, and average winter lows of 37.6°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, carrots.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $311,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.91%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 97.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Kern Medical Center is 13.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 18 hospitals in the county.
Explore California Resources
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LandWatch
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AcreTrader
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More counties in California
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The closest counties to Kern County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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