Bakersfield, CA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Bakersfield, CA: What You Need to Know

Bakersfield is the seat of Kern County in Southern California. It prides itself as the Country Music Capital of the West Coast and the birthplace of a country music subgenre called Bakersfield Sound.

Job Opportunities in Bakersfield

Agriculture and oil are two of the biggest economic drivers in Bakersfield and Kern County. Agriculture provides 53,000 jobs in the county. Among the city’s top employers are Nabors Completion & Production (oil field service), Sun Pacific (growers and shippers of fruits and vegetables), and Wm Bolthouse Farms Inc. (agricultural consultants). Key employers outside of agriculture and oil are Adventist Health Bakersfield and Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.

Local Culture: The Bakersfield Sound

In the 1950s and 1960s, a brand of country music popularized by Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and Billy Mize was dubbed the Bakersfield Sound because they played in local nightspots before they gained broader success. Their music sounded very different from the mainstream country music recorded in Nashville. Today you can enjoy Bakersfield Sound and learn about its rich history at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace, a music venue, restaurant, and museum combined.   

The Cost of Living in Bakersfield

Bakersfield (population: 384,145) is more budget-friendly than other California cities of similar size. Its cost of living is 1.4% lower than the national average, although its food and housing costs are 2.4% and 4.6% higher than the national average. Bakersfield’s median gross rent is $1,078. If you’re moving from another state, brace yourself for California’s taxes, among the highest in the U.S. The state collects 1% to 13.3% in income tax and 25% to 10.50% in sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Residents appreciate the small-town vibe despite Bakersfield’s big population. They praise its diversity, affordability, and easy access to the beach or the mountains. Looking for a suburb with good schools? Greenacres and Rosedale fit the bill, and they are less than 10 miles away from the city.

The Local Weather and Climate

Bakersfield is known for its agricultural products despite its desert climate. The city gets only seven inches of rain a year, a lot lower than the U.S. average of 38 inches. It doesn’t snow here either, and there are about 272 sunny days annually versus the U.S. average of 205 sunny days. Bakersfield is among the cities with the worst air pollution, by ozone and by particulate pollution (short-term and year-round), according to the American Lung Association.