PlainZIP

Wasco, CA · standard

ZIP Code 93280

Kern County, California — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

27,152
33/sq mi
$51,388
Median income
$274,900
Median home value
6.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Wasco pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with above-median home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.

16th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 38%
home value, US ZIPs
33
people per sq mi
58%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 93280 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 93280 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 832.9 square miles in Wasco, Kern County, California. The area is home to 27,152 residents, producing a population density of 33 people per square mile, and falls within the Los Angeles time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 93280 against California and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 93280 sits at $51,388 (49% below the California average), while per-capita income is $18,177. The poverty rate stands at 18.3% and the unemployment rate at 7.1%. On housing, the median home value is $274,900 (64% below the state average) with median rent at $1,093 per month, and 57.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 93280 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 6.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.5, and the average commute is 23 minutes. Use the benchmarks above to see where 93280 sits relative to California and the national baseline rather than viewing the numbers in isolation. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 93280

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 93280.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 93280, Wasco, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

27,152

Population

832.9

Area (sq mi)

33

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 93280?

30.5

Median Age

57.7%

Male

42.3%

Female

29.7%

Foreign-Born

White 18.8%
African American 4.3%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 51.2%
Hispanic or Latino 87.0%

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?

$51,388

Median Household Income

-49% vs state

$18,177

Per Capita Income

18.3%

Poverty Rate

7.1%

Unemployment Rate

23.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 93280 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$51,388 16th percentile higher than 16% 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 40.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 6.5%

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

What does housing look like?

7,074

Total Housing Units

6,619

Occupied Units

455

Vacant Units

3.55

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 57.6%
Renter 42.4%

$274,900

Median Home Value

-64% vs state

$1,093

Median Rent

1982

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

+6.5%

YoY Change (2024)

365

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+265%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 93280 have increased 6.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +265% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +7.4% 233
2021 +11.1% 259
2022 +21.2% 314
2023 +9.1% 343
2024 +6.5% 365

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 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 209 business establishments in ZIP 93280, employing approximately 2,668 people with a combined annual payroll of $130,898,000.

209

Businesses

2,668

Employees

$130.9M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 40 19.1%
Accommodation and food services 30 14.3%
Health care and social assistance 21 10.1%
Transportation and warehousing 20 9.6%
Other services (except public administration) 16 7.7%
Construction 14 6.7%
Real estate and rental and leasing 14 6.7%
Manufacturing 13 6.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 9 4.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 8 3.8%
Information 6 2.9%
Finance and insurance 6 2.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 4 1.9%
Wholesale trade 4 1.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

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
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Pop: 55,659
93308 standard
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Pop: 52,447

Related Areas

Kern County Wasco, CA California

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 93280 in? ▼
ZIP code 93280 (Wasco) 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 93280? ▼
ZIP code 93280 in Wasco, CA has a population of 27,152 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 93280? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 93280 is $51,388, which is 33% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 93280? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 93280 is $274,900, which is 1% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 93280? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 93280 is Two or More Ethnicities at 51.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 87.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 93280? ▼
ZIP code 93280 has 209 business establishments employing approximately 2,668 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 93280? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 93280 are: Retail trade (40), Accommodation and food services (30), Health care and social assistance (21). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 93280? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 93280 increased by 6.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 265%. 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 93280? ▼
In ZIP code 93280, 40.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 6.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 93280? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 93280 is 23.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 93280? ▼
In ZIP code 93280, approximately 57.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 42.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 93280? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 93280 is 18.3% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Wasco, CA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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