Kern County, California
102 ZIP codes · Avg score 65/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
For most households in Kern County, the 102 tracked ZIP codes show adequate but uneven water quality.
How Kern County Compares
How Kern County Compares
Kern County scores 8 points below the California state average (73/100) and 3 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
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 (asthma 9.9%, diabetes 13.1%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,407, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.356% avg pipe failure probability, 21% of ZIPs at high risk
67% 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 297 violations. Past 5 years: 785 total (785 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
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $2,407
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
471,683 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 with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Kern County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Niles Csd | 32,517 | 135 |
| 2 | Oildale Mwc | 44,899 | 122 |
| 3 | City of Bakersfield, | 160,144 | 120 |
| 4 | Vaughn Wc Inc. | 37,189 | 120 |
| 5 | Greenfield County Water District | 11,590 | 120 |
87 total water systems serve Kern County.
All ZIP Codes in Kern County
102 ZIP codes tracked in Kern County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93206 | Buttonwillow | 83 | B | 0 | $230K |
| 2 | 93215 | Delano | 83 | B | 0 | $272K |
| 3 | 93216 | Delano | 83 | B | 0 | — |
| 4 | 93249 | Lost Hills | 83 | B | 1 | $166K |
| 5 | 93268 | Taft | 83 | B | 0 | $225K |
| 6 | 93280 | Wasco | 83 | B | 0 | $255K |
| 7 | 93531 | Keene | 83 | B | 0 | $291K |
| 8 | 93556 | Ridgecrest | 83 | B | 0 | — |
| 9 | 93238 | Kernville | 81 | B | 2 (2 health) | $365K |
| 10 | 93263 | Shafter | 79 | B | 2 | $302K |
| 11 | 93504 | California City | 79 | B | 2 | — |
| 12 | 93505 | California City | 79 | B | 2 | $240K |
| 13 | 93519 | Cantil | 79 | B | 2 (1 health) | — |
| 14 | 93205 | Bodfish | 78 | B | 5 (2 health) | $105K |
| 15 | 93241 | Lamont | 78 | B | 1 | $199K |
| 16 | 93527 | Inyokern | 78 | B | 6 (1 health) | $328K |
| 17 | 93555 | Ridgecrest | 78 | B | 0 | $235K |
| 18 | 93304 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $229K |
| 19 | 93305 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $245K |
| 20 | 93306 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $291K |
| 21 | 93308 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $298K |
| 22 | 93309 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $287K |
| 23 | 93311 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $426K |
| 24 | 93312 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $421K |
| 25 | 93314 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | $507K |
| 26 | 93389 | Bakersfield | 76 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 27 | 93561 | Tehachapi | 75 | B | 5 (2 health) | $377K |
| 28 | 93302 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 29 | 93303 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 30 | 93313 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | $350K |
| 31 | 93380 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 32 | 93381 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 33 | 93382 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 34 | 93383 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 35 | 93384 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 36 | 93385 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 37 | 93386 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 38 | 93387 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 39 | 93388 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 40 | 93390 | Bakersfield | 74 | B | 5 (4 health) | — |
| 41 | 93225 | Frazier Park | 73 | B | 3 (2 health) | $334K |
| 42 | 93581 | Tehachapi | 73 | B | 5 (2 health) | — |
| 43 | 93516 | Boron | 72 | B | 0 | $103K |
| 44 | 93301 | Bakersfield | 71 | B | 5 (4 health) | $264K |
| 45 | 93307 | Bakersfield | 71 | B | 5 (4 health) | $238K |
| 46 | 93226 | Glennville | 70 | B | 0 | $420K |
| 47 | 93203 | Arvin | 69 | C | 3 (1 health) | $248K |
| 48 | 91306 | Winnetka | 63 | C | 0 | $720K |
| 49 | 91324 | Northridge | 63 | C | 0 | $869K |
| 50 | 91335 | Reseda | 63 | C | 0 | $700K |
| 51 | 91337 | Reseda | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 52 | 91411 | Van Nuys | 63 | C | 0 | $973K |
| 53 | 93207 | California Hot Springs | 63 | C | 0 | $259K |
| 54 | 93222 | Pine Mountain Club | 63 | C | 0 | $364K |
| 55 | 93255 | Onyx | 63 | C | 0 | $188K |
| 56 | 93260 | Posey | 63 | C | 0 | $361K |
| 57 | 93518 | Caliente | 63 | C | 0 | $268K |
| 58 | 93523 | Edwards | 63 | C | 0 | $149K |
| 59 | 93240 | Lake Isabella | 59 | C | 24 (9 health) | $204K |
| 60 | 93243 | Lebec | 58 | C | 12 (10 health) | $349K |
| 61 | 93285 | Wofford Heights | 58 | C | 25 (25 health) | $203K |
| 62 | 93501 | Mojave | 58 | C | 18 (18 health) | $183K |
| 63 | 90274 | Palos Verdes Peninsula | 55 | C | 0 | $2000K |
| 64 | 91325 | Northridge | 55 | C | 0 | $900K |
| 65 | 91401 | Van Nuys | 55 | C | 0 | $989K |
| 66 | 91405 | Van Nuys | 55 | C | 0 | $698K |
| 67 | 91406 | Van Nuys | 55 | C | 0 | $765K |
| 68 | 93250 | Mc Farland | 55 | C | 0 | $245K |
| 69 | 93283 | Weldon | 55 | C | 48 (46 health) | $144K |
| 70 | 93510 | Acton | 55 | C | 0 | $713K |
| 71 | 91327 | Northridge | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 72 | 91328 | Northridge | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 73 | 91329 | Northridge | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 74 | 91330 | Northridge | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 75 | 91357 | Tarzana | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 76 | 91396 | Winnetka | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 77 | 91404 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 78 | 91407 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 79 | 91408 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 80 | 91409 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 81 | 91410 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 82 | 91413 | Sherman Oaks | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 83 | 91470 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 84 | 91482 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 85 | 91495 | Sherman Oaks | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 86 | 91496 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 87 | 91499 | Van Nuys | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 88 | 93224 | Fellows | 53 | D | 0 | $181K |
| 89 | 93251 | Mc Kittrick | 53 | D | 0 | $244K |
| 90 | 93252 | Maricopa | 53 | D | 0 | $165K |
| 91 | 93276 | Tupman | 53 | D | 0 | $193K |
| 92 | 93524 | Edwards | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 93 | 93528 | Johannesburg | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 94 | 93542 | Little Lake | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 95 | 93554 | Randsburg | 53 | D | 0 | $10K |
| 96 | 93558 | Red Mountain | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 97 | 91356 | Tarzana | 50 | D | 0 | $1177K |
| 98 | 93502 | Mojave | 50 | D | 18 (18 health) | — |
| 99 | 91403 | Sherman Oaks | 45 | D | 0 | $1468K |
| 100 | 93220 | Edison | 39 | F | 15 (14 health) | — |
| 101 | 93287 | Woody | 32 | F | 7 (5 health) | $266K |
| 102 | 93560 | Rosamond | 28 | F | 30 (29 health) | $325K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Kern County
Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 67% 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 102 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (65/100).
46 of 102 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 283 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to California water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.