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Cost of living, pay and housing

35.21° N · 119.41° W · GEOID 0681722

Valley Acres

Kern County, California · part of the Bakersfield, CA metro

Limited data population under 5,000

CaliforniaValley Acres, CAValley AcresValley Acres

The short answer

Valley Acres is home to 595 people. Median household income is $135,820 a year and median rent is $1,151 a month, 10.2% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is lighter than in most places. The median home is valued at $315,100, about 2.3x annual median household income.

Median gross rent
$1,151
16% below the median place
Median household income
$135,820
69% above the median place
Median home value
$315,100
1% below the median place
Unemployment
8.6%
76% above the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Valley Acres

  • Between the 2020 and 2024 surveys, household income rose 22.7% a year while rent rose 6.1%, so pay gained on rent more than in 99% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 654 California places.
  • Only 0% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 98% of places its size. It is the lowest of 630 California places.
  • The median rent takes only 10.2% of the median household's income, a smaller share than in 98% of places its size. It is the 2nd-lowest of 655 California places.
  • The median home is worth 2.3 years of the median household's income, fewer than in 89% of places its size. It is the lowest of 655 California places.
  • After the median rent, and with prices for everything else adjusted to the US average, the median household has about $118,400 a year left, more than in 86% of places its size.

Rent is light relative to pay, but the county has a FEMA natural hazard risk score of 99 out of 100. Budget for insurance before counting the savings.

01

Moving to Valley Acres

Kern County loses about 2.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in23,856
Moved out25,282
Net−1,426

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Within California, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within CaliforniaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$55K
Leavers$62K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Kern County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
0.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 0.0% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Kern County report $55,100 a year in income on average; those leaving, $62,400, so leavers earn more than newcomers.
Income you would need
$46,000 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,151 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,434 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $315,100.
Getting to work
24 minutes each way on average; 7.5% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
St. Francis, MN matches it on character. Compare the two
Moved here in the past year1
0.0%
below the median place (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state1
0.0%
below the median place (median 2.0%)
Income of households moving in7
$55,079
22% below the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasureValley AcresAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year10.0%below (median 5.7%)
Moved from another state10.0%below (median 2.0%)
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-2.0233% below
Income of households moving in7County figure$55,07922% below
Income of households moving out7County figure$62,41911% below
02

What it costs to live here

Renters paying 30%+ is 0.0%, below the median place (median 50.6%).

Valley Acres10.2%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$46,040
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
10.2%
50% below the median place
Home price to income
2.3x
39% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
10%
comfortably under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$118,600
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Valley Acres, $1,151 a month, and local prices for everything else (103.1 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Valley Acres.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Valley Acres? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
0.0%
below the median place (median 50.6%)
Owner costs with a mortgage1
$1,434
23% below the median place
Homeownership1
77.1%
16% above the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasureValley AcresAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,15116% below
Rent to income110.2%50% below
Property tax rate11.1%15% above
Home price to income12.3x39% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure100.90% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,6563% above
HUD area median income4County figure$81,90024% below
Property tax paid (median)1$3,3041% above
Median home value1$315,1001% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure2.0%37% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure51.0%1% below
Homeownership177.1%16% above
Renters paying 30%+10.0%below (median 50.6%)
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,43423% below
Vacant homes1County figure7.2%2% above
Median year built119881% above
03

Work and pay

Commutes by transit is 0.0%, below the median place (median 0.8%).

Commutes by transit1
0.0%
below the median place (median 0.8%)
Median household income1
$135,820
69% above the median place
Income per person1
$43,897
10% above the median place
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasureValley AcresAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$135,82069% above
Income per person1$43,89710% above
Unemployment1County figure8.6%76% above
Average annual pay6County figure$61,7376% below
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure2.8%24% below
Jobs6County figure347,044130% above
Poverty rate1County figure19.1%77% above
Mean commute1County figure24 min2% below
Works from home1County figure7.5%40% below
Commutes by transit10.0%below (median 0.8%)
04

Who lives here

Homes with broadband is 100.0%, 8% above the median place.

Homes with broadband1
100.0%
8% above the median place
High school or higher1
85.1%
8% below the median place
Household size1
2.9
16% above the median place
All 8 people measures
MeasureValley AcresAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population15956646th largest
Median age136.17% below
Bachelor's or higher1County figure18.8%41% below
High school or higher185.1%8% below
Household size12.916% above
Born abroad1County figure20.2%129% above
No health insurance1County figure7.8%22% above
Homes with broadband1100.0%8% above
05

Life in Valley Acres

26 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks.

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars15.9 −24%
Shops21.9 −28%
Arts, recreation and fitness1.9 −54%
Doctors' offices and clinics15.0 −26%
Child care centers1.5 −35%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Public school students10
197,431
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools10
275
above the median place (median 9)
Shops per 10k8
21.9
28% below the median place
All 9 schools and local life measures
MeasureValley AcresAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools10County figure275above (median 9)
Public school students10County figure197,431above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher10County figure22.445% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure15.924% below
Shops per 10k8County figure21.928% below
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure1.954% below
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure15.026% below
Child care centers per 10k8County figure1.535% below
National Register listings9County figure26100% above
06

Safety, weather and risk

Annual precipitation is 8.9 in, 80% below the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Valley Acres. Larger places are fetched first.

Annual precipitation11
8.9 in
80% below the median place
July average high11
96°F
10% above the median place
Heat wave risk12
99.5
10% above the median place
All 10 weather and risk measures
MeasureValley AcresAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high11County figure96°F10% above
January average low11County figure36°F44% above
Average temperature11County figure62°F13% above
Annual precipitation11County figure8.9 in80% below
Natural hazard risk12County figure98.97% above
Tornado risk12County figure19.876% below
Wildfire risk12County figure99.863% above
Heat wave risk12County figure99.510% above
Median air quality index13County figure7063% above
Good air days13County figure17.5%74% below
08

Valley Acres in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 10% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 10% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,151/mo (2024)$1,480/mo$1,210 to $1,800/mo+4.3%
Median household income$135,820 (2024)$182,500$154,000 to $216,000+5.0%
Median home value$315,100 (2024)$512,000$372,000 to $706,000+8.4%

The median home would be worth 2.8 years of the median income in 2030, against 2.3 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Valley Acres

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
St. Francis, MN$1,287$111,198Compare
Jordan, MN$1,192$110,057Compare
Big Lake, MN$1,340$120,549Compare
Spring Creek, NV$1,386$105,154Compare
Spring Creek, NVBig Lake, MNJordan, MNSt. Francis, MNValley Acres, CAValley AcresSt. FrancisJordanBig LakeSpring CreekValley AcresSt. FrancisJordanBig LakeSpring Creek

Common questions

Is Valley Acres a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Between the 2020 and 2024 surveys, household income rose 22.7% a year while rent rose 6.1%, so pay gained on rent more than in 99% of the 2,476 places under 10,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 654 California places. Only 0% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a lower share than in 98% of places its size. It is the lowest of 630 California places. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Valley Acres expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 10.2% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a lighter load here than usual. The median home is valued at $315,100.

What salary do you need to live in Valley Acres?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $46,040 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Valley Acres?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are St. Francis, MN, Jordan, MN, Big Lake, MN and Spring Creek, NV.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  10. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  11. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  12. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  13. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Valley Acres with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Valley Acres itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/valley-acres-california

Citytistics. “Valley Acres, California.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/valley-acres-california/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.