Is Cottonwood CDP (Kern County), CA a Good Place to Live?
Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) is a small town of 2,802 in California, with a median household income of $36,467 and a 23.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.
Strengths: Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 102.2Cottonwood CDP (Kern County)'s overall cost of living index is 102.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Cottonwood CDP (Kern County), CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $260,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $902 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 20.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $36,467 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Higher than AverageCottonwood CDP (Kern County)'s violent crime rate is 723.4 per 100,000 residents — 90% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
| Metric | Cottonwood CDP (Kern County), CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | N/A | — |
| Elementary Schools | N/A | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | N/A | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 6.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 54.5% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) sees average highs of 58.1°F in January and 97.4°F in July, with 6.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.1 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Cottonwood CDP (Kern County), CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 58.1°F |
| Average High — July | 97.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" |
Demographics
| Metric | Cottonwood CDP (Kern County), CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,802 | — |
| Median Age | 22.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 23.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.3 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 56.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 22.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 46.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 7.2% | 16.8% |