What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to California City, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
California City is a city in Kern County, California, with an estimated population of 13,174. It anchors the Bakersfield metro area. The population has contracted 3.1% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in California City is $274,472 as of 2026-04, down 4.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.8% annual growth (-5.5% from the 5-year peak). Rents in California City average $1,680 per month, up 6.8% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 53 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-4.4% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Healthy 5-year run: +5.8% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
- Hot rental market: rents up 6.8% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.
Things to know first
- Net out-migration: population shrinking 3.1% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
- Cooling: -4.4% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
- Thin housing market: small population means fewer transactions and slower resale. Liquidity risk on exit.
More about California City
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.