Hot desert

Bakersfield, California

Kern County, California · Population 408k · 427 ft elevation

Living in Bakersfield

Bakersfield has a hot desert climate: scorching summers (July highs around 98°F) and mild winters (January lows around 39°F).

Precipitation is very dry at about 7″ a year, and it essentially never sees snow.

Skies are exceptionally sunny (83% of possible sunshine). It never gets truly muggy.

Air quality is poor: a median AQI of 70, with about 65 unhealthy-air days in the latest year.

Bakersfield at a glance

Population
408k
Elevation
427 ft
Average daily high
78°F84th percentile
Average daily low
53°F79th percentile
Annual precipitation
7″1th percentile
Annual snowfall
0″0th percentile
Sunshine hours per year
3,734 hrs96th percentile
Median AQI
7097th percentile
Median home value
$347k65th percentile
Median rent
$1,371/mo61th percentile
Median household income
$77k53th percentile
Property tax rate
1.00%51th percentile
Top state income-tax rate
13.3%
Sales tax (state + local)
8.8%
Unemployment rate
7.0%
Homes with broadband
93%62th percentile
Walkability index
11.978th percentile
Average commute
24 min
Math proficiency (8th grade)
12%3th percentile
Reading proficiency (8th grade)
17%
Violent crime rate
496 per 100k88th percentile
Property crime rate
2,259 per 100k
Overall natural-hazard risk
9986th percentile
Outdoor access
7574th percentile
Public land within 10 miles
1%
Public land within 30 miles
8%
Mountain relief within 30 miles
3,773 ft

Climate by month

Average monthly weather in Bakersfield, California
MonthHighLowPrecipitationSnowSunshine
Jan58°F39°F1.3″0.1″215 hrs
Feb64°F41°F1.3″—211 hrs
Mar70°F45°F1.2″—279 hrs
Apr75°F49°F0.6″—314 hrs
May83°F57°F0.3″—378 hrs
Jun91°F64°F0.0″—415 hrs
Jul98°F70°F0.0″—415 hrs
Aug96°F69°F0.0″—399 hrs
Sep91°F64°F0.1″—349 hrs
Oct80°F54°F0.2″—304 hrs
Nov67°F44°F0.5″—245 hrs
Dec59°F38°F1.0″—210 hrs

Near Bakersfield

Largest places in California

Sources: NOAA climate normals, NASA POWER, EPA air quality, U.S. Census Bureau, FEMA, FBI, EPA walkability and EDFacts. Methodology