Downtown Bakersfield
Early-career professionals, longtime locals, artists, and small business owners
The Vibe:
Downtown Bakersfield is compact but slowly gaining energy. It’s home to a mix of historic buildings, government offices, theaters, and older apartment buildings and homes. Some blocks are walkable and lively, especially around 17th Street, Fulton Street, and The Padre Hotel, but others feel quieter or still in transition.
This area attracts people who want to be close to the action without paying much. There are lofts, affordable rentals, and some beautiful old Craftsman homes if you’re willing to do the renovation work. You’ll find dive bars, art galleries, taquerias, and venues like Fox Theater and Dignity Health Arena, which hosts hockey games, concerts, and expos.
Walkability is better here than anywhere else in Bakersfield, though it’s still not a big pedestrian city. The neighborhood has real potential, especially for people who want character and community in a place that’s still evolving.
Zoned Schools:
-Longfellow Elementary
-Emerson Middle
-Bakersfield High School
Median Home Price: ~$295,000
(Apartments and small single-family homes make up most of the market.)
Similar Neighborhoods:
- Oleander–Sunset
- Tower District (Fresno)
- East Sacramento
Rosedale Neighborhood
Upper-middle-income families, professionals, suburban commuters
The Vibe:
Rosedale covers a big chunk of Bakersfield’s northwest side. It’s mostly newer, suburban-style development with wide roads, cul-de-sacs, and good-sized houses built in the 1990s and 2000s. There’s a strong sense of neighborhood pride here. Lawns are mowed, schools are well-rated, and people stick around.
It’s one of the most desirable areas for families looking for space, schools, and safety. Shopping centers, gyms, and big-box stores line Rosedale Highway, and there are parks and community centers scattered throughout. The area isn’t walkable, but people like it because everything is clean, accessible, and set up for families.
Zoned Schools:
-Kern High School District
-Norris Elementary
-Centennial High
-Frontier High
Median Home Price: ~$520,000
(Some newer homes or custom builds go above $600K)
Similar Neighborhoods:
- Northwest Bakersfield
- Seven Oaks
- Clovis East (Fresno area)
The Oaks
Middle-income families
The Vibe:
The Oaks is a quiet, well-maintained neighborhood in Southwest Bakersfield. It’s filled with 1980s–1990s homes that are still in good shape, and it has a reputation as a family-friendly area with stable schools.
Zoned Schools:
-McAuliffe Elementary
-Tevis Jr. High
-Stockdale High
Median Home Price: ~$450,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
- Seven Oaks – more upscale, but nearby and well-kept
- Laurelglen – similar age homes and layout
- Riverlakes Ranch – suburban, family-oriented, mid-price point
Oleander–Sunset Neighborhood
Artists, students, older residents, budget buyers
The Vibe:
A central neighborhood near downtown, full of older Craftsman and bungalow-style homes. There’s a mix of charm and rough edges, but it has personality and walkability.
Zoned Schools:
-Roosevelt Elementary
-Emerson Middle
-Bakersfield High
Median Home Price: ~$310,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
- Westchester – similar age and architecture, but more upscale
- Downtown – a bit more commercial, but shares walkability
- Tulare’s downtown district – small-city charm, older homes
Northwest Bakersfield
Young families, first-time buyers, commuters
The Vibe:
This is the heart of Bakersfield’s suburban expansion. You’ll find newer tract homes, decent schools, shopping centers, and lots of drive-throughs. It’s popular with young families for its affordability and newer homes.
Zoned Schools:
-Norris Elementary
-Frontier High
Median Home Price: ~$440,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
- Rosedale – more established and slightly higher-end
- The Oaks – older but with a similar family focus
- Riverstone (Madera/Fresno area) – new, suburban, family-centric
Westchester
Older families, professionals, longtime residents
The Vibe:
Historic neighborhood near downtown with mid-century homes, mature trees, and a sense of Bakersfield’s past. Many homes have character, and residents often stay for decades.
Zoned Schools:
-Franklin Elementary
-Emerson Middle
-Bakersfield High
Median Home Price: ~$420,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
- Oleander–Sunset – nearby and older, with a similar vintage feel
- La Cresta–Alta Vista – older homes with historic charm
- Tower District (Fresno) – eclectic and central, with bungalow homes
Olde Stockdale
Families
Olde Stockdale is perhaps the most affluent neighborhood in Bakersfield. Large homes with huge lawns, parks, and a beautiful Country Club with all the golf, tennis, fitness, and social activities, this is where a lot of families with means start their search.
Laurelglen is a great neighborhood to start your search if you’ve got younger children and are looking for a more affordable option than Old Stockdale. It has great smaller homes and apartment complexes, plenty of shopping and restaurants, parks, and some great elementary schools for the kiddos.
- Olde Stockdale
- Laurelglen
- Seven Oaks at Grand Island
- Tevis Ranch