Kernville, CA · standard
ZIP Code 93238
Kern County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 1,490
- 5/sq mi Low-density area
- $49,950
- Median income Below-median income area
- $408,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 54.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Kernville pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 14th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 20%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 5
- people per sq mi
- 83%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 93238 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 93238 is a sparsely populated ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Kernville, Kern County, California, home to just 1,490 residents across 331.1 square miles, a density of 5 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 93238 reports a modest median household income of $49,950 (51% below the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $51,261. The poverty rate is 2.2%, with unemployment at 9.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $408,500 (47% below the average California ZIP), and median rent is $1,691; owner occupancy is 83.3%.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 54.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 65.5, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 1 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Kern County, so 93238 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 93238
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Kernville, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 93238.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
20 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
10 establishments
- Retail trade 5
Retail trade
5 establishments
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
4 establishments
- Finance and insurance 3
Finance and insurance
3 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 93238, Kernville, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
1,490
Population
331.1
Area (sq mi)
5
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 93238?
65.5
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
3.2%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$49,950
Median Household Income
-51% vs state ZIP avg
$51,261
Per Capita Income
2.2%
Poverty Rate
9.5%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 93238 ranks among California ZIPs
Kernville, CA household income vs. every California ZIP code
Median household income among 1,583 reporting California ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$49,950 7th percentile higher than 7% of 1,583 California ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more California ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
976housing units
976
Total Housing Units
581
Occupied Units
395
Vacant Units
1.46
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$408,500
Median Home Value
-47% vs state ZIP avg
$1,691
Median Rent
1981
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+18.6%
YoY Change (2022)
322
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+222%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 93238 have increased 18.6% over the past year (2022). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +222% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | -0.6% | 207 |
| 2019 | +8.5% | 225 |
| 2020 | +21.7% | 273 |
| 2021 | -0.6% | 272 |
| 2022 | +18.6% | 322 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2022. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 59 business establishments in ZIP 93238, employing approximately 454 people with a combined annual payroll of $20,268,000.
59
Businesses
454
Employees
$20.3M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 20 | 33.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 10 | 16.9% |
| Retail trade | 5 | 8.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 6.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 5.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 3 | 5.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 3 | 5.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 3 | 5.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 93238 vs 93285 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93285 | Wofford Heights, CA | 2,536 | 6.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 93238, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (1,490 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Kern County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 93238 in?
ZIP code 93238 (Kernville) is located in Kern County, California. Kern County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/kern-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 93238?
ZIP code 93238 in Kernville, CA has a population of 1,490 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 93238?
The median household income in ZIP 93238 is $49,950, which is 35% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 93238?
The median home value in ZIP 93238 is $408,500, which is 47% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 93238?
The largest racial group in ZIP 93238 is White at 83.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 93238?
ZIP code 93238 has 59 business establishments employing approximately 454 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 93238?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 93238 are: Accommodation and food services (20), Other services (except public administration) (10), Retail trade (5). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 93238?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 93238 increased by 18.6% in 2022. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 222%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 93238?
In ZIP code 93238, 70.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 54.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 93238?
In ZIP code 93238, approximately 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 93238?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 93238 is 2.2% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 93238's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 93238 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Kernville, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.