Kernville, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 857, Kernville's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Kernville is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 857. It ranks as the 1108th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Kernville is 65.6 years. This is 73% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 0.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 18.9% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Kernville is $49,883. This is 50% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 38% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.9%. This is 84% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 9.8%. This is 49% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $406,400. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 83.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 50% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Kernville is White (non-Hispanic), making up 77.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (77.6% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (6.2%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (3.3%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

54.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 47% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Kernville, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.