County profile · California
Kern County, CA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Kern County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 927,068
- +2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 284,931
- Median household income
- $70,210
- +31.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $338,300
- Jobs located here
- 302,967
- Highest market score
- 81
- Pet grooming and boarding, #48 of 1,461 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Kern County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Kern County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 927,068 people live in Kern County, in 284,931 households. Population estimates show Kern County grew 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Kern County is $70,210 a year, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.6% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Kern County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (83).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Kern County are for pet grooming and boarding businesses (81), pet businesses (81) and veterinarians (80). Kern County ranks #48 of 1,461 scored counties for pet grooming and boarding businesses.
Kern County is part of the Bakersfield-Delano metro area. For its number of households, Kern County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for tire shops (68% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for roofing and gutter companies (72% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Kern County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Kern County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pet grooming and boarding | 81 | #48 of 1,461 | 73 | 2.6 | $3.6M | 140 | 26 |
| Pet businesses | 81 | #59 of 2,200 | 228 | 8.0 | $1.1M | 130 | 85 |
| Veterinarians | 80 | #89 of 1,485 | 68 | 2.4 | $3.8M | 141 | 50 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 79 | #50 of 1,334 | 101 | 3.5 | $2.8M | 137 | 32 |
| Chiropractors | 77 | #92 of 1,490 | 73 | 2.6 | $4.8M | 199 | 47 |
| Hair salons | 77 | #121 of 2,339 | 444 | 15.6 | $609K | 142 | 66 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 76 | #37 of 777 | 25 | 0.9 | $11.2M | 276 | 66 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 74 | #162 of 2,088 | 310 | 10.9 | $902K | 136 | 98 |
| Child care and preschools | 74 | #174 of 1,611 | 133 | 4.7 | $1.3M | 129 | 139 |
| Physical therapy | 73 | #171 of 1,422 | 97 | 3.4 | $3.6M | 149 | 60 |
| Roofing and gutters | 72 | #129 of 1,177 | 29 | 1.0 | $26.1M | 308 | 38 |
| Pet stores | 72 | #145 of 974 | 56 | 2.0 | $4.7M | 103 | 9 |
| Gyms | 72 | #187 of 1,792 | 184 | 6.5 | $1.5M | 117 | 66 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 72 | #192 of 1,493 | 69 | 2.4 | $5.1M | 175 | 140 |
| Spas and skin care | 70 | #231 of 1,769 | 217 | 7.6 | $1.2M | 142 | 23 |
| Home inspectors | 65 | #86 of 415 | 7 | 0.2 | Index only | 265 | 21 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 65 | #336 of 1,771 | 157 | 5.5 | $2.3M | 134 | 316 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 64 | #322 of 1,302 | 99 | 3.5 | $3.5M | 112 | 40 |
| Funeral homes | 64 | #372 of 1,472 | 42 | 1.5 | $864K | 127 | 26 |
| Home repair trades | 64 | #394 of 2,057 | 240 | 8.4 | $3.2M | 130 | 433 |
| House cleaning | 62 | #196 of 847 | 45 | 1.6 | $7.9M | 123 | 112 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 62 | #395 of 1,327 | 95 | 3.3 | $3.2M | 105 | 67 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 61 | #457 of 1,707 | 148 | 5.2 | $5.1M | 107 | 208 |
| Car washes and detailing | 60 | #468 of 1,451 | 121 | 4.2 | $2.5M | 100 | 47 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 60 | #565 of 2,176 | 572 | 20.1 | Index only | 156 | 214 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 60 | #656 of 2,385 | 1,009 | 35.4 | $268K | 126 | 185 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 56 | #203 of 479 | 27 | 0.9 | $11.3M | 83 | 21 |
| Insurance agencies | 55 | #962 of 2,272 | 369 | 13.0 | $1.5M | 120 | 217 |
| Electricians | 54 | #496 of 1,160 | 63 | 2.2 | $12M | 100 | 187 |
| Barbershops | 54 | #607 of 1,356 | 187 | 6.6 | $1.4M | 77 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 54 | #997 of 2,358 | 404 | 14.2 | $2M | 82 | 270 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 53 | #384 of 887 | 108 | 3.8 | Index only | 116 | 55 |
| Real estate | 53 | #931 of 2,229 | 772 | 27.1 | Index only | 146 | 479 |
| Laundromats | 52 | #360 of 785 | 42 | 1.5 | $11.6M | 92 | 12 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 51 | #152 of 325 | 8 | 0.3 | $43.5M | 177 | 44 |
| Property management | 51 | #425 of 910 | 85 | 3.0 | Index only | 103 | 156 |
| Pizza | 51 | #969 of 2,090 | 194 | 6.8 | $5.4M | 107 | 717 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 50 | #832 of 1,656 | 173 | 6.1 | $2M | 113 | 515 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 50 | #998 of 2,063 | 272 | 9.5 | $3.9M | 105 | 173 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 50 | #1,186 of 2,405 | 1,640 | 57.6 | $643K | 97 | 450 |
| Nail salons | 49 | #730 of 1,328 | 142 | 5.0 | $1.9M | 114 | 83 |
| Convenience stores | 49 | #1,165 of 2,261 | 317 | 11.1 | $5.2M | 66 | 88 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 48 | #1,008 of 1,886 | 310 | 10.9 | $1.1M | 114 | 229 |
| Auto repair shops | 47 | #1,345 of 2,378 | 782 | 27.4 | $392K | 88 | 327 |
| Dry cleaners | 46 | #298 of 507 | 34 | 1.2 | $14.3M | 91 | 17 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 46 | #1,078 of 1,889 | 266 | 9.3 | $4M | 96 | 189 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 46 | #1,191 of 2,087 | 345 | 12.1 | $1.4M | 111 | 178 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 45 | #1,411 of 2,394 | 1,798 | 63.1 | $194K | 127 | 935 |
| Auto repair and car care | 45 | #1,431 of 2,401 | 1,283 | 45.0 | $239K | 89 | 493 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #1,461 of 2,405 | 2,928 | 102.8 | $360K | 97 | 1,352 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 43 | #1,376 of 2,210 | 508 | 17.8 | $955K | 109 | 207 |
| Tire shops | 41 | #1,011 of 1,530 | 181 | 6.4 | $1.7M | 68 | 78 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 41 | #1,552 of 2,402 | 683 | 24.0 | $2.4M | 72 | 284 |
| Grocery stores | 36 | #1,482 of 2,070 | 257 | 9.0 | $6.5M | 69 | 196 |
| Pest control | 34 | #568 of 699 | 43 | 1.5 | $8.2M | 80 | 64 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 34 | #1,709 of 2,222 | 483 | 17.0 | $2.2M | 72 | 717 |
Household spending in Kern County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $306.2M | $1,075 | 112 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $788.2M | $2,766 | 107 |
| Food away from home | $1.1B | $3,702 | 91 |
| Groceries | $1.7B | $5,820 | 92 |
| Personal care products and services | $270.5M | $949 | 94 |
| Child care and other personal services | $172.3M | $605 | 104 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $279.7M | $982 | 100 |
| Medical and dental services | $348M | $1,221 | 95 |
| Pets | $260.6M | $914 | 101 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $485.4M | $1,704 | 83 |
| Vehicle insurance | $557M | $1,955 | 100 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $756.6M | $2,655 | 88 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $353.3M | $1,240 | 88 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $4.9B | $17,084 | 103 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Kern County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 927,068+2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 284,931
- Median age
- 33.6
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 60%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 8,135 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 112
- Median household income
- $70,210+31.6% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $93,147
- Median home value
- $338,300
- Jobs located here
- 302,967
- Daytime population
- 882,683Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Kern County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Kern County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Kern County, CA growing?
Population estimates put Kern County at 927,068 people in 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 284,931 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.6%, before inflation.
How much do households in Kern County, CA spend?
Households in Kern County spend about $4.9B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $1.7B on groceries and $1.1B on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Kern County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 112, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (83).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Kern County, CA?
Of the business types scored in Kern County, pet grooming and boarding businesses (81), pet businesses (81) and veterinarians (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For pet grooming and boarding businesses, that ranks #48 of 1,461 scored counties.
How does Kern County, CA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Kern County is $70,210, 13% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $338,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for tire shops (68% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for roofing and gutter companies (72% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Kern County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Kern County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in Kern County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Kern County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.