Unemployment in Kern County, California, is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties
In Kern County, 8.7% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 88% of U.S. counties.
What drives Kern County's score
In Kern County, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 93.1. About three in ten renters (27.8%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 93% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 90.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Kern County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Kern County does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (12.4%, 2020 to 2024) and median household income ($71,295, 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent27.8% · 2020 to 202493rd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income27.9% · fiscal year 202792nd percentile
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- 90.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year8.7% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202699th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working26.9% · 2020 to 202481st percentile
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- 68.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.2% · August 202575th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.0% · August 202561st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score45.1% · second quarter of 202666th percentile
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- 65.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector26.6% · August 202562nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people171.6 · 202567th percentile
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- 53.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line18.6% · 202482nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.5% · 202481st percentile
- People with a disability12.4% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- People without health insurance7.8% · 2020 to 202449th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$71,295 · 202437th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Kern County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Kern County, 11.9% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Kern County
California
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Kern County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 24.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In Kern County, California, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 24.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Kern County getting SNAP food aid rose most in two steps: 12.2% in 2011 to 13.5% in 2012; 14.7% in 2013 to 16.0% in 2014.
The share of households in Kern County getting SNAP food aid doubled to 20.2%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2011 to 2012, reaching 13.5%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Kern County, California.
How Kern County has changed
Kern County's population had its largest rise, from 736,296 in 2004 to 830,137 in 2009.
Kern County's population tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 922,529, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2019 to 2024, reaching 922,529. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Kern County, California.
The number of jobs located in Kern County had its largest rise, from 268,335 in 2010 to 312,020 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Kern County nearly doubled from 1990 to 2025, reaching 347,044, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2005 to 2010, reaching 268,335. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Kern County, California.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.9% | 2025 9.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 15.6% | 2024 18.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,614 | 2024 $71,295 |
The table uses 9.0% for 2025; the score uses 8.7% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Kern County's history
1851
Gold discovered along Kern River. Wikipedia
1861
Major floods swept away original settlement. Wikipedia
1865
Oil discovered in the valley. Wikipedia
1866
Incorporated April 2, 1866. Wikipedia
1997
Heavy rain in December 1997 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
1998
Heavy rain in February 1998 did $12.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flood in January 2011 did $12.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2015
Lightning in July 2015 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 909,235, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1967
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Kern County, 14 of them for flooding. FEMA
Kern County beside its neighbors
Kern County scores higher than all eight counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Kern County ranks 4th of the nine; Tulare County is highest, at 27.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kern County, CA | 88 | 18.6% | 24.0% |
| Tulare County, CA | 85 | 19.9% | 27.9% |
| San Bernardino County, CA | 81 | 12.6% | 23.6% |
| Kings County, CA | 78 | 14.4% | 25.5% |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 66 | 13.3% | 20.4% |
| Santa Barbara County, CA | 49 | 15.7% | 13.9% |
| Ventura County, CA | 42 | 9.5% | 16.2% |
| San Luis Obispo County, CA | 35 | 12.6% | 18.2% |
| Inyo County, CA | 29 | 11.2% | 26.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Kern County the poorest county in California?
No, Kern County's poverty rate was 18.6% in 2024, 7th highest of 58 in California (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Trinity County, at 23.0%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Kern County ranks 3rd of 58 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Kern County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Kern County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.