Lakeside (Kern County), California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 807, Lakeside (Kern County)'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

Lakeside (Kern County) is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 807. It ranks as the 1119th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lakeside (Kern County) is 57.8 years. This is 53% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 9.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 17.6% 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 Lakeside (Kern County) is $55,759. This is 44% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 24.0%. This is 100% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 13.2%. This is 100% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. 74.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lakeside (Kern County) is White (non-Hispanic), making up 56.8% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 22.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (56.8% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (22.2% vs 5.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population (19.2%) is well below the state average of 40.2%.

Education

15.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 76.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Lakeside (Kern County), 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.