The Town FilesCalifornia City, California
City in Kern County · population 14,973 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $278,000
- Household income
- $60,113
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 33.5
California City is a city of 14,973 people in Kern County, California. The median home is worth $278,000, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of California towns.
How California City ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in California City is worth $278,000, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $60,113, which is more affordable than 84% of California towns. Median rent is $1,300 a month. 55.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | California City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,000 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,300 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $60,113 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 55.0% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.8% | — |
Who lives in California City
| People | California City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.0% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.8% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 43.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 93.3% |
Weather in California City
July highs average 97.2°F and January lows 32.8°F. About 5.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.7 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 110 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 40 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of California City since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 15, 2005.
Severe weather in Kern County since 1996
Kern County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 27, 2024 | Fire | FM-5522: Borel Fire |
| November 21, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4750: Tropical Storm Hilary |
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 25, 2021 | Fire | FM-5416: French Fire |
Jobs and pay in Kern County
Kern County had 347,664 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,066 a year. Unemployment was 8.3% in 2023; in California City itself the ACS puts it at 18.7%.
Public schools in California City
4 public schools with 2,092 students, about 25.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| California City High | 9-12 | 637 | 29.0 |
| Robert P. Ulrich Elementary | K-2 | 496 | 23.6 |
| Hacienda Elementary | 3-5 | 483 | 24.2 |
| California City Middle | 6-8 | 476 | 25.1 |
Towns near California City
- Mojave, CA20.3 mi · 4,699 people · home $213,600
- Rosamond, CA27.6 mi · 20,961 people · home $352,600
California City questions
Is California City, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, California City scores better for retirees than 29% of California towns and quieter than 52%. 13.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.5).
How much does a house cost in California City?
The median owner-occupied home in California City is valued at $278,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,113, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $1,300 a month.
What is the weather like in California City?
July highs average 97.2°F and January lows 32.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 5.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1.7 inches of snow.
Does California City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of California City in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)