What’s the best part of Bakersfield?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Bakersfield are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Bakersfield neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to California and Bakersfield is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Bakersfield for 2024? According to the most recent census data, Artisan looks to be the best Bakersfield neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Bakersfield that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Bakersfield.
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Bakersfield
Population: 4,098
Median Home Value: $333,500 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $87,700 (12th best)
More on Artisan: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,611
Median Home Value: $266,950 (Tenth best)
Median Income: $107,873 (Third best)
More on Southern Oaks: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,585
Median Home Value: $333,500 (Fourth best)
Median Income: $95,003 (Eighth best)
More on Terra Vista: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,438
Median Home Value: $374,700 (Second best)
Median Income: $126,104 (Second best)
More on Stockdale Estates: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,064
Median Home Value: $269,567 (Ninth best)
Median Income: $95,285 (Seventh best)
More on Stone Meadows: Data | Real Estate
Population: 3,776
Median Home Value: $277,450 (Seventh best)
Median Income: $99,613 (Fourth best)
More on Tevis Ranch: Data | Real Estate
Population: 2,355
Median Home Value: $223,100 (20th best)
Median Income: $60,975 (20th best)
More on Ridgeview Estates: Data | Real Estate
Population: 7,189
Median Home Value: $398,100 (best)
Median Income: $147,447 (best)
More on Seven Oaks: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,785
Median Home Value: $358,800 (Third best)
Median Income: $88,681 (11th best)
More on Stonegate: Data | Real Estate
Population: 4,384
Median Home Value: $272,950 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $96,080 (Sixth best)
More on The Oaks: Data | Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Bakersfield, CA Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Bakersfield, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 39 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Bakersfield.” We’re lookin’ at you, Artisan.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Bakersfield, California has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Bakersfield.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Bakersfield
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Bakersfield where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Bakersfield are Artisan, Southern Oaks, Terra Vista, Stockdale Estates, Stone Meadows, Tevis Ranch, Ridgeview Estates, Seven Oaks, Stonegate, and The Oaks.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Bakersfield aren’t all good. Homaker Park takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Bakersfield.
The worst neighborhoods in Bakersfield are Homaker Park, Downtown, Rexland Acres, East Bakersfield, and Lakeview.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more California reading, check out:
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Bakersfield For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artisan | 4,098 | $333,500 | $87,700 |
| 2 | Southern Oaks | 2,611 | $266,950 | $107,873 |
| 3 | Terra Vista | 3,585 | $333,500 | $95,003 |
| 4 | Stockdale Estates | 2,438 | $374,700 | $126,104 |
| 5 | Stone Meadows | 7,064 | $269,567 | $95,285 |
| 6 | Tevis Ranch | 3,776 | $277,450 | $99,613 |
| 7 | Ridgeview Estates | 2,355 | $223,100 | $60,975 |
| 8 | Seven Oaks | 7,189 | $398,100 | $147,447 |
| 9 | Stonegate | 4,785 | $358,800 | $88,681 |
| 10 | The Oaks | 4,384 | $272,950 | $96,080 |
| 11 | Csu Bakersfield | 2,266 | $248,100 | $89,569 |
| 12 | Haggin Oaks | 3,023 | $225,700 | $93,404 |
| 13 | Laurelglen | 8,949 | $264,300 | $76,193 |
| 14 | Silver Creek | 7,430 | $240,500 | $80,548 |
| 15 | The Seasons | 5,870 | $235,550 | $79,906 |
| 16 | Amberton | 1,047 | $237,400 | $96,510 |
| 17 | Bakersfield Country Club | 6,400 | $217,700 | $74,729 |
| 18 | Riviera-Westchester | 3,984 | $235,340 | $55,646 |
| 19 | Sagepointe | 3,323 | $217,367 | $46,925 |
| 20 | Eastridge Estates | 309 | $280,600 | $76,362 |
| 21 | Park Stockdale | 6,782 | $197,571 | $54,275 |
| 22 | Spice Tract | 8,281 | $192,700 | $53,747 |
| 23 | Hillcrest | 6,222 | $156,860 | $49,091 |
| 24 | Oleander Sunset | 14,490 | $172,633 | $45,981 |
| 25 | Rio Bravo | 13,276 | $237,217 | $78,704 |
| 26 | Southgate | 8,146 | $133,317 | $34,096 |
| 27 | Castle Ranch | 2,903 | $113,500 | $54,089 |
| 28 | Benton Park | 9,020 | $155,000 | $45,384 |
| 29 | Stockdale Greens | 2,312 | $216,950 | $59,928 |
| 30 | Quailwood | 2,317 | $226,900 | $64,169 |
| 31 | La Cresta-Altavista | 5,286 | $163,760 | $51,107 |
| 32 | College Heights-Baker Street | 7,703 | $66,500 | $24,460 |
| 33 | Casa Loma | 2,455 | $107,800 | $24,811 |
| 34 | Tyner Homes | 4,430 | $205,900 | $51,074 |
| 35 | Lakeview | 9,871 | $131,229 | $35,440 |
| 36 | East Bakersfield | 6,712 | $119,600 | $27,125 |
| 37 | Rexland Acres | 5,739 | $90,500 | $36,108 |
| 38 | Downtown | 2,187 | $165,400 | $23,223 |
| 39 | Homaker Park | 6,372 | $89,250 | $21,977 |
