Bakersfield California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Bakersfield, CA (the Bakersfield-Delano metro area) was $949 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Bakersfield was $1,020 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Bakersfield median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Bakersfield rental vacancy rates, Bakersfield rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Bakersfield.
Real Gross Rent in Bakersfield California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| Bakersfield, CA Median Gross Rent | $949 | -4.33% | -2.27% |
Bakersfield, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Bakersfield peaked in real terms in 2018 at $992 and is now $43 (4.33%) lower. At $1,020, real average gross rent in Bakersfield was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Bakersfield: Bakersfield CA Median, Bakersfield CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Bakersfield
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Bakersfield, CA Median |
Bakersfield, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $949 | $1,020 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $992 | $1,008 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $977 | $1,014 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $971 | $983 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $961 | $1,016 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $918 | $967 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $941 | $978 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $928 | $949 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $906 | $938 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $917 | $951 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $956 | $993 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $891 | $936 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $829 | $850 |
Bakersfield Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Bakersfield California was 4.70% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Bakersfield California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Bakersfield, CA | 4.70% | -0.42% | -0.30% |
Trends in Bakersfield, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Bakersfield peaked in 2007 at 7.08%. Since then it has fallen by 2.38% to 4.70%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Bakersfield CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Bakersfield
| Date | US | California | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.70% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 5.12% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 5.35% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 5.00% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 5.74% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 5.21% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 5.51% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 6.35% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 5.92% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 6.71% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 6.67% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 7.08% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 5.77% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Bakersfield, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Bakersfield, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.46% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Bakersfield California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| Bakersfield, CA | 21.46% | -1.20% | -0.83% |
Trends in Bakersfield, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Bakersfield household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.88%. Since then it has fallen by 1.42% to 21.46%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Bakersfield CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Bakersfield California
| Date | US | California | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.46% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 22.66% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 22.82% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.29% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 21.18% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 21.91% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 22.88% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 22.79% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 22.26% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 21.64% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 21.25% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 19.31% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 19.78% |
Renter Fraction in Bakersfield California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Bakersfield in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Bakersfield as a fraction of total Bakersfield households. In 2019 41.22% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Bakersfield Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| Bakersfield, CA | 41.22% | -1.36% | -1.81% |
Trends in the Bakersfield, CA Renter Fraction
The Bakersfield household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 46.53% and is now 5.31% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Bakersfield CA, California, US
History of Bakersfield Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Bakersfield, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 41.22% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 42.58% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 42.15% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 43.03% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 43.41% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 43.43% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 46.53% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 42.22% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 43.44% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 40.96% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 39.89% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 38.32% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 37.24% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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