Kern County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Kern County CA was $949 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Kern County was $1,020 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Kern County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Kern County rental vacancy rates, Kern County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Kern County.
Real Gross Rent in Kern County California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| Kern County CA Median Gross Rent | $949 | -4.33% | -2.27% |
Kern County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Kern County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $992 and is now $43 (4.33%) lower. At $1,020, real average gross rent in Kern County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Kern County CA Median, Kern County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Kern County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Kern County CA Median |
Kern County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $949 | $1,020 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $992 | $1,008 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $977 | $1,014 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $971 | $983 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $961 | $1,016 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $918 | $967 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $941 | $978 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $928 | $949 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $906 | $938 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $917 | $951 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $956 | $993 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $891 | $936 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $829 | $850 |
Kern County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Kern County California was 4.70% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Kern County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Kern County CA | 4.70% | -0.42% | -0.30% |
Trends in Kern County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Kern County peaked in 2007 at 7.08%. Since then it has fallen by 2.38% to 4.70%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Kern County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Kern County
| Date | US | California | Kern County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.70% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 5.12% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 5.35% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 5.00% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 5.74% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 5.21% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 5.51% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 6.35% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 5.92% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 6.71% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 6.67% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 7.08% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 5.77% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Kern County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Kern County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.46% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Kern County California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| Kern County CA | 21.46% | -1.20% | -0.83% |
Trends in Kern County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Kern County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.88%. Since then it has fallen by 1.42% to 21.46%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Kern County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Kern County California
| Date | US | California | Kern County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.46% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 22.66% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 22.82% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.29% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 21.18% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 21.91% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 22.88% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 22.79% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 22.26% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 21.64% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 21.25% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 19.31% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 19.78% |
Renter Fraction in Kern County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Kern County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Kern County as a fraction of total Kern County households. In 2019 41.22% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Kern County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| Kern County CA | 41.22% | -1.36% | -1.81% |
Trends in the Kern County CA Renter Fraction
The Kern County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 46.53% and is now 5.31% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Kern County CA, California, US
History of Kern County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Kern County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 41.22% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 42.58% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 42.15% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 43.03% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 43.41% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 43.43% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 46.53% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 42.22% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 43.44% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 40.96% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 39.89% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 38.32% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 37.24% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / California
- / Kern County
