2018 Best Places to Live in Kern CountyAbout this List

Ridgecrest

• Town in California
• 56

Current Resident: I have lived in Ridgecrest for as long as I can remember. Ridgecrest gave me some of my best memories and best friends that I could ask for. This little town holds a special place in my heart as my grandparents practically built this town. My grandpa was a huge contributor to building up our Naval base which is pretty awesome. Growing up, I never saw a problem with Ridgecrest, I went to great schools, I made great friends and I was always close to my huge family. Now that I am older, the town has changed and has become a bit more dangerous than I remember it. The crime rates have sky rocketed, as I woman I no longer feel safe going places by myself. Ridgecrest will always be my home town and hold a special place in my heart, but I am very excited to move and experience a new place.
Read 56 Reviews

• B+

• B+

• 28,728 Population

China Lake Acres

• Town in California

• B

• B+

• 2,446 Population

Rosedale

• Town in California
• 2

Current Resident: Rosedale has plenty of shopping, a diverse restaurant selection, and is a relatively safe area of Bakersfield California. For entertainment you'll find antique car shows at Chuy's restaurant, a new craze; escape rooms on Coffee Road, several places to play darts and pool, and several parks to hike and picnic. Overall, Rosedale has everything a neighborhood needs to entertain and live comfortably.
Read 2 Reviews

• B

• B

• 17,603 Population

Taft

• Town in California
• 9

Current Resident: It's a small town about 45 minutes west of Bakersfield, CA. It's a place where everyone knows everyone. There's 2 stop lights in the whole town; that's how small it is. It is well known for the oil fields and the oil production. Anywhere you turn, you can see an oil rig. Taft has a historic fort that is well known in the movie and music industry. Many actors and musicians have come to Taft to film movies and music videos such as the late Robin Williams, Goldie Hawn, Justin Timberlake, Meghan Trainor and most recently The Weeknd. The schools here in Taft are very good schools. This town is filled with family friendly events.
Read 9 Reviews

• B-

• B-

• 9,224 Population

Rosamond

• Town in California
• 41

Current Resident: Out of the cities in the Antelope Valley Rosamond and Tehachapi are the best places to live. There is less crime in both of these towns, ample growth potential in Rosamond and the people are mostly friendly. On the west side of the train tracks is the better side to live on, there is less marijuana smell. If you like that smell then you will love the east side as there are 20 and growing pot shops in this town all located in that area. Personally I stay away from them as much as I can. There are more business coming to Rosamond which allows for more jobs available to people. The community gets together and tries to clean up our town by spending a day or two picking up trash that has blown into our town. Please care about one another here, they might not know your name but if you have an issue and it's clear you need help everyone seems to pitch in one way or another to help.
Read 41 Reviews

• B-

• C

• 20,024 Population

Golden Hills

• Town in California
• 23

Current Resident: I moved into the Golden Hills/South Park area of downtown San Diego in August of 2016. From day one I have felt safe walking the sidewalks to and from the local markets, the post office and restaurants all the while admiring the old, eclectic homes with wrap around porches. It is a quite convenient place to live, with access to the 5 and 94 within a 2 minute drive from my apartment and bike lanes for local errands. Golden Hills has a dog park and is flush with dog-friendly vendors who don't mind if your pet joins you as you patronize the various storefronts. There are even 3 gyms within less than a mile! This place is a diamond in the rough and my only complaint would be the amount of potholes near the entrances to the freeway ramps. Other than that, Golden Hills is a hidden gem!
Read 23 Reviews

• B-

• B-

• 8,889 Population

Bakersfield

• City in California
• 909

Current Resident: I love the closeness of Bakersfield. I know Bakersfield has a really bad reputation for being "boring," but I feel like it's not given enough credit for all the fun activities the city has to offer. We have countless museums which showcase local work! There are monthly activities held downtown, at the libraries, as well as on some school sites or parks.
There's an endless amount of parks to spend the day such as Silver Creek, Hart Park, and River Walk. The community is always banding together to create fun and safe events such as the Pokemon Go Community Day events. They are usually held at River Walk and free lunch and beverages are provided to anyone in the area.
The night life includes bowling, sports bars, and the famous Escape Rooms! That's just to mention a few. I have lived in Bakersfield my whole life and I absolutely love my town and how simple it really is. There is a lot of beauty in simple things.
Read 909 Reviews

• B-

• B-

• 372,680 Population

Tehachapi

• Town in California
• 40

Current Resident: I have lived here for 2 years now and I like how locals contribute to the town, it could be to donate to a cause or personally help another local in need! What I would definitely change is the bullying problem the public schools have. I strongly agree to prevent bullying by targeting the actual issue with the bully instead of defense classes for the victims.
Read 40 Reviews

• B-

• B-

• 12,948 Population

California City

• Town in California
• 44

Nearby Resident: This place is amazing and is filled with lots of great attractions. This city have pretty places to visit with your friends, family or just hanging out by yourself. I really love the weather and the food places that are there for us to love. I really love salads so I always go to the salad bar and get nice big salads with family or friends. The overall feel of the city is so nice and very welcoming.
Read 44 Reviews

• C+

• C-

• 13,495 Population

Greenacres

• Town in California
• 133

Niche User: California is always a vacation. It is a very slow-paced life; all depending on how one chooses to live and the career they partake in. If in need of a get away, beaches are just a short drive away and as most know, California beaches have breathtakingly beautiful sunsets and a relaxing atmosphere for all. I have lived in California for all 18 years I have been alive and I am grateful to have grown up in such an opportunity filled world. I would not change a thing.
Read 133 Reviews

• C+

• A-

• 5,705 Population

Mojave

• Town in California
• 9

• C+

• D+

• 4,222 Population

Greenfield

• Town in California
• 18

Current Resident: Cool little town, nothing to do. Everything is 45 minutes away. No night life, no shopping. Safe little agricultural town.
Read 18 Reviews

• C

• C-

• 3,405 Population

Delano

• Town in California
• 70

Current Resident: Personally, the town has grown thanks to the residents that live in Delano. Delano has grown into a town surrounded by agriculture, where many types of produce is located. I really recommend this town to people who are more than one race because Delano has many types of races and I wouldn't ask for any better in a town!
Read 70 Reviews

• C

• B-

• 52,709 Population

Ford City

• Town in California

• C

• B-

• 4,388 Population

South Taft

• Town in California

• C

• B-

• 1,417 Population

Shafter

• Town in California
• 28

Current Resident: Shafter is a very small community. Shafter makes everyone feel like family, and has very friendly people. This city has very beautiful parks, and very nice schools. The saftey in the community is very safe there is never any bad violence and no bad crimes. The cost of living can be a little pricey but it is all worth is because the living is very clean and you will never see any dirty streets with no liter. I have grown up in Shafter and I am thankful because I have been apart of such a great community.
Read 28 Reviews

• C

• C-

• 18,433 Population

Oildale

• Town in California
• 34

Current Resident: I have lived in Oildale for the last 5 years. As for the lifestyle, it is what you make it. Depending on where and how you choose to live in which ever area you choose is what your overall life experience is about. We live in a Middle Class neighborhood, my children went to the public schools and I shop in the neighborhood market. Overall we like our little community. My only wish is that our home was a bit bigger to accommodate the larger family we now have back at home.
Read 34 Reviews

• C-

• C

• 34,496 Population

Taft Heights

• Town in California
• 6

Niche User: I love this town that I was born and raised in. But on another scale I wish Taft was bigger so we had more to do in the small town. We are finally getting a new hotel, "Best Western" and soon to come more places to eat. Taft is not far for others places to go to, like the beach which is 1 1/2 to 2 hours away, and there's the mountains which is less or at the most about an hour away (depending on which way u go). Sometimes I wish Taft could get more snow in the winter! Love the winter and holiday time, especially being with family and friends. So other than that, Taft is a good places to raise families and meet new people and make new friends.
Read 6 Reviews

• C-

• B-

• 2,721 Population

Wasco

• Town in California
• 53

Current Resident: Wasco is a very friendly and safe environment. Wasco's residents are very nice and compatible. This is a very small town so everyone knows each other, which makes it a more safe and comfortable environment to live in. Since its a small town, I would like for the community to make more community events such as harvest fests, etc. Other than that, Wasco is a great place to live.
Read 53 Reviews

• C-

• C

• 26,378 Population

Frazier Park

• Town in California
• 3

Visitor: Frazier park is a quiet town with a homey feel to it. Frazier park is home to a wide variety of wild life and plants. if your looking to escape the city for a weekend than Frazier park is the place for you.
Read 3 Reviews

• C-

• C

• 2,440 Population

Bodfish

• Town in California
• 2

• C-

• C

• 1,593 Population

Lamont

• Town in California
• 10

Current Resident: Lamont is a small town where every one knows each other, its between Bakersfield and close to weed patch and arvin, i grew up here town has minimal grocery stores and tons of gasoline stations and food trucks and restaurants, i feel like we need more businesses here like a pizza hut or dominoes and a new donuts place we can try for a Starbucks and panda express since there is no Chinese food here we have to travel into Bakersfield to find one. we need more variety of shopping centers another seafood restaurant would be nice even an Italian restaurant would be great , we have McDonalds ,jack in the box, rustys pizza and little ceasars and subway , but i feel like we lack variety. we have local restaurants but none serve Italian or Chinese food, we can also use a shoe store like wss or shoe palace place, think if we can have another motel , hotel or new apartment complexes it would be a great investment theres always people who look to rent in our area.
Read 10 Reviews

• C-

• C-

• 15,597 Population

Lebec

• Town in California
• 2

• C-

• C

• 1,557 Population

Arvin

• Town in California
• 19

Current Resident: Arvin is home to me, I grew up here. I was born and raised in Arvin, all of my friends and family live here. Living in Arvin was great to me, there was hardly ever trouble here. Arvin till this day is growing and i could not be any happier for Arvin. As little as Arvin is it welcomes everyone. There are schools in almost every corner, everyone know each other either it be family or friend relative.
Read 19 Reviews

• C-

• C-

• 20,826 Population

Lake Isabella

• Town in California
• 7

Current Resident: Lake Isabella is a quiet mountain community located 40 miles north of Bakersfield. It is located in Kern county which is known for it's drug problems. Despite that, living here is so affordable that I actually have time to spend with my children. It is also located 35 miles from the "Trail of 100 Giants" which is absolutely beautiful for a family nature walk. Regardless of where you live, being able to spend time with your children lowers their risk of drug issues and living in Lake Isabella is affordable enough for that to be possible.
Read 7 Reviews

• C-

• C

• 4,287 Population