What are the schools like in Kernville, CA?

Kernville is served primarily by Kernville Union Elementary. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.6:1.

What is the median household income in Kernville?

The median household income in Kernville, CA is $41,497 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 18.6%.

What is the weather like in Kernville, CA?

Kernville has an average high temperature of 60.6°F in January and 98.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 11.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 6.2 inches.

Kernville, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Kernville, CA affordable or expensive?

Kernville's cost of living index is 102, where 100 represents the national average. This means Kernville is 2% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $240,300 and the median rent is N/A per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Kernville, CA?

Kernville has a violent crime rate of 723.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2403.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Kernville, CA a Good Place to Live?

Kernville is a small town of 836 in California, with a median household income of $41,497 and a 18.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Kernville stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Kernville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Kernville 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: 102.2

Kernville's overall cost of living index is 102.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Kernville costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric	Kernville, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$240,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	N/A	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	100.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,497	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Kernville's violent crime rate is 723.4 per 100,000 residents — 90% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

723.4 /100k

Property Crime

2403.8 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Kernville is served primarily by Kernville Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Kernville, CA	National Avg
School District	Kernville Union Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	61.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	100.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Kernville sees average highs of 60.6°F in January and 98.6°F in July, with 11.8 inches of annual precipitation and 6.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Kernville, CA
Average High — January	60.6°F
Average High — July	98.6°F
Annual Precipitation	11.8"
Annual Snowfall	6.2"

Demographics

Metric	Kernville, CA	National Avg
Population	836	—
Median Age	59.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	18.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	54.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	95.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	2.6%	6.3%
Under 18	25.4%	22.2%
65 and over	41.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wofford Heights, CA 4 mi Alta Sierra CDP (Kern County), CA 7 mi Mountain Mesa, CA 8 mi Lake Isabella, CA 9 mi Squirrel Mountain Valley, CA 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Kernville

Kernville, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

93238

Kernville vs Other Cities

Kernville, CA vs Wofford Heights, CA Kernville, CA vs Alta Sierra CDP (Kern County), CA Kernville, CA vs Mountain Mesa, CA Kernville, CA vs Lake Isabella, CA Kernville, CA vs Squirrel Mountain Valley, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kernville, CA affordable or expensive?

Kernville's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Kernville roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $240,300 and median rent is N/A/month.

What is the crime rate in Kernville, CA?

Kernville's violent crime rate is 723.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2403.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Kernville?

Public schools in Kernville are operated by Kernville Union Elementary. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.6:1. 61.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Kernville, CA a good place to live?

Kernville, CA has a population of 836, a median household income of $41,497, and an unemployment rate of 18.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Kernville?

Kernville averages 60.6°F in January and 98.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.8 inches with about 6.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Kernville?

Kernville, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 93238.

What is the population of Kernville?

The population of Kernville, California is 836 with a median age of 59.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Kernville?

Key numbers for living in Kernville: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $240,300, median household income $41,497, crime index 160 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Kernville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.