PlainZIP

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
$49,950
Median income
$408,500
Median home value
54.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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 California average), while per-capita income is $51,261. 2.2% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 9.5%. The typical home here is valued at $408,500 (47% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,691 monthly, and 83.3% of units are owner-occupied.

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 -. Beyond these figures, 1 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Kern County, letting you compare 93238 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 93238?

65.5

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

3.2%

Foreign-Born

White 83.5%
African American 0.1%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 10.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.0%

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

$51,261

Per Capita Income

2.2%

Poverty Rate

9.5%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 93238 ranks nationally

Kernville, CA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$49,950 14th percentile higher than 14% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 70.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 54.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

976

Total Housing Units

581

Occupied Units

395

Vacant Units

1.46

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 83.3%
Renter 16.7%

$408,500

Median Home Value

-47% vs state

$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

More ZIP Codes in Kern County

93307 standard
Bakersfield, CA
Pop: 82,658
93306 standard
Bakersfield, CA
Pop: 64,587
93309 standard
Bakersfield, CA
Pop: 58,409
93312 standard
Bakersfield, CA
Pop: 56,741
93215 standard
Delano, CA
Pop: 55,659
93308 standard
Bakersfield, CA
Pop: 52,447

Related Areas

Kern County Kernville, CA California

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.