Kern County, California Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Kern County is located in California with a total population of 910,433. It is the 11th most populous county out of 58 in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kern County is 32.4 years. This is 14% lower than the state median of 37.6 years. With 28.8% of the population under 18, Kern County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kern County is $67,660. This is 30% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.3%. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $310,600. Housing costs are 55% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.6x. 59.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kern County is Hispanic or Latino, making up 55.7% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 30.6%. The Asian population (4.9%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

18.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 77.1%.