Income needed to buy a home
Kern County, CA
$122,047
a year in household income to buy the typical Kern County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$362,784
Down payment (10%)$36,278
Loan$326,506
Principal and interest (7.40%)$2,261/mo
Property tax (0.89% a year)$270/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$181/mo
Mortgage insurance$136/mo
Total monthly cost$2,848/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Far off
The typical household here earns $70,210 a year, 58% of what it takes.
In California
Kern County ranks #13 of 58 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in California
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Modoc County | $195,654 | $64,354 |
| Lassen County | $234,567 | $78,175 |
| Trinity County | $257,616 | $80,870 |
| Siskiyou County | $280,435 | $91,399 |
| Lake County | $307,740 | $101,584 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.