Kern County, California home prices
Typical home $360,205 · +0.0% in a year · property tax 0.88%
The typical home in Kern County is worth $360,205, 53% less than the California typical home ($761,538). Values changed +0.0% in the past year and +22.2% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 0.88% of their home's value in property tax each year ($3,177 on the typical home), versus 0.72% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical Kern County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $72,041 | $288,164 | $1,938 | $0 | $445 | $2,383 | $102,100 |
| 10% down | $36,021 | $324,185 | $2,181 | $135 | $445 | $2,761 | $118,300 |
| 5% down | $18,010 | $342,195 | $2,302 | $143 | $445 | $2,889 | $123,800 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $12,607 | $353,681 | $2,379 | $159 | $445 | $2,983 | $127,900 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 0.88% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in California · part of the Bakersfield metro area.
California counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn County | $360,411 | +3.0% | 0.64% |
| Tulare County | $360,861 | +1.9% | 0.7% |
| Del Norte County | $361,100 | -1.1% | 0.61% |
| Kings County | $363,953 | +3.0% | 0.75% |
| Plumas County | $364,061 | -0.1% | 0.7% |
| Shasta County | $367,699 | +0.0% | 0.69% |
| Colusa County | $371,142 | +0.6% | 0.62% |
| Imperial County | $382,001 | +4.7% | 0.77% |
| Tuolumne County | $385,440 | -1.2% | 0.66% |
| Mariposa County | $385,831 | -0.8% | 0.61% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in Kern County, CA?
The typical home value in Kern County is $360,205 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Kern County?
About $102,100 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in Kern County?
The median effective rate is 0.88% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).