Kern County, California
68 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Kern County: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For most households in Kern County, the 68 tracked ZIP codes show adequate but uneven water quality.
How Kern County Compares
How Kern County Compares
Kern County scores 11 points below the California state average (76/100) and 8 points below the national average (73/100).
Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0; EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData Last verified:
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Kern County, California
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12.6 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 13.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,043, driven primarily by wildfire
62.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Kern County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 92 violations. Past 5 years: 190 total (190 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window - worth closer monitoring.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Modeled area-level indicator, not a failure probability. Sources: Census ACS housing age, EPA DWINS infrastructure needs, EPA SDWIS violations, and EPA lead indicators.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,043
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
302,744 housing units in Kern County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Kern County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Kern County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Kern County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water systems serving Kern County
8 community water systems serving Kern County.
- C
- C
- B
- D
- B
- C
Show all 8 water systems
- D
- C
46 total water systems serve Kern County.
Systems with the most violations in Kern County
5 water systems with recorded EPA violations.
- B
- B
- C
- C
- D
All ZIP Codes in Kern County
68 ZIP codes tracked in Kern County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93224 | Fellows | 75 | B | 0 | $181K |
| 2 | 93241 | Lamont | 75 | B | 0 | $199K |
| 3 | 93251 | Mc Kittrick | 75 | B | 0 | $244K |
| 4 | 93252 | Maricopa | 75 | B | 0 | $165K |
| 5 | 93268 | Taft | 75 | B | 0 | $225K |
| 6 | 93555 | Ridgecrest | 75 | B | 0 | $235K |
| 7 | 93225 | Frazier Park | 74 | B | 12 (12 health) | $334K |
| 8 | 93501 | Mojave | 74 | B | 1 | $183K |
| 9 | 93505 | California City | 74 | B | 1 | $240K |
| 10 | 93243 | Lebec | 72 | B | 17 (11 health) | $349K |
| 11 | 93560 | Rosamond | 72 | B | 25 (19 health) | $325K |
| 12 | 93215 | Delano | 71 | B | 2 (1 health) | $272K |
| 13 | 93263 | Shafter | 70 | B | 6 (5 health) | $302K |
| 14 | 93280 | Wasco | 70 | B | 6 (5 health) | $255K |
| 15 | 93250 | Mc Farland | 69 | C | 8 (6 health) | $245K |
| 16 | 93203 | Arvin | 68 | C | 9 (1 health) | $248K |
| 17 | 93301 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 0 | $264K |
| 18 | 93304 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 0 | $229K |
| 19 | 93305 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 0 | $245K |
| 20 | 93309 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 0 | $287K |
| 21 | 93311 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 0 | $426K |
| 22 | 93312 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 11 (10 health) | $421K |
| 23 | 93313 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 0 | $350K |
| 24 | 93314 | Bakersfield | 58 | C | 14 (13 health) | $507K |
| 25 | 93306 | Bakersfield | 53 | D | 4 (3 health) | $291K |
| 26 | 93308 | Bakersfield | 48 | D | 9 (6 health) | $298K |
| 27 | 93561 | Tehachapi | 47 | D | 11 (2 health) | $377K |
| 28 | 93307 | Bakersfield | 42 | D | 29 (16 health) | $238K |
| 29 | 93205 | Bodfish | — | — | 4 | $105K |
| 30 | 93206 | Buttonwillow | — | — | $230K | |
| 31 | 93216 | Delano | — | — | — | |
| 32 | 93220 | Edison | — | — | 4 (3 health) | — |
| 33 | 93222 | Pine Mountain Club | — | — | 0 | $364K |
| 34 | 93226 | Glennville | — | — | $420K | |
| 35 | 93238 | Kernville | — | — | $365K | |
| 36 | 93240 | Lake Isabella | — | — | 4 | $204K |
| 37 | 93249 | Lost Hills | — | — | 1 | $166K |
| 38 | 93255 | Onyx | — | — | $188K | |
| 39 | 93276 | Tupman | — | — | $193K | |
| 40 | 93283 | Weldon | — | — | $144K | |
| 41 | 93285 | Wofford Heights | — | — | $203K | |
| 42 | 93287 | Woody | — | — | $266K | |
| 43 | 93302 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 44 | 93303 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 45 | 93380 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 46 | 93381 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 47 | 93382 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 48 | 93383 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 49 | 93384 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 50 | 93385 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 51 | 93386 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 52 | 93387 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 53 | 93388 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 54 | 93389 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 55 | 93390 | Bakersfield | — | — | — | |
| 56 | 93502 | Mojave | — | — | — | |
| 57 | 93504 | California City | — | — | — | |
| 58 | 93516 | Boron | — | — | 0 | $103K |
| 59 | 93518 | Caliente | — | — | $268K | |
| 60 | 93519 | Cantil | — | — | — | |
| 61 | 93523 | Edwards | — | — | $149K | |
| 62 | 93524 | Edwards | — | — | — | |
| 63 | 93527 | Inyokern | — | — | $328K | |
| 64 | 93528 | Johannesburg | — | — | — | |
| 65 | 93531 | Keene | — | — | 2 (1 health) | $291K |
| 66 | 93554 | Randsburg | — | — | $10K | |
| 67 | 93556 | Ridgecrest | — | — | — | |
| 68 | 93581 | Tehachapi | — | — | 3 (1 health) | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Kern County
Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 62.8% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kern County, California
Overview
Kern County in California covers 68 tracked ZIP records with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100) across 28 scored records.
22 of 36 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record have recorded EPA violations. 75 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
← Back to California Home Safety Profile
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- PFAS screening: EPA UCMR 5
- Radon zones: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Air quality: EPA AirData annual AQI
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.