Taft Heights, CA

Full City Profile · California · Kern County County

3.1 /5.0
B Good
1,588 Population 5,293/sq mi density
$62,125 Median Income $28,932 per capita
$187,700 Home Value $201,442 Zillow
$1,135 Median Rent 29.6% income on rent
66°F Avg Temperature
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.5 / 5.0
$62,125 median income, 9.3% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$187,700 home value, $1,135/mo rent
D
Education
1.8 / 5.0
9.7% bachelor's degree or higher

Taft Heights, CA

At a Glance

Median Income
$62,125
17% below
$28,932 per capita
Home Value
$187,700
33% below
Zillow: $201,442
Median Rent
$1,135/mo
2% below
29.6% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
9.7%
71% below
78.3% high school+
Unemployment
9.3%
158% above
19.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
37.7%
17% above
19.4% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
66°F

How Taft Heights Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Taft Heights's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
83%
Home Value
67%
Rent
98%
Poverty
155%
Bachelor's
29%
Unemployment
258%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Taft Heights a Good Place to Live?

B
3.1 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Taft Heights residents earn a median household income of $62,125 , which is 17% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $28,932. The unemployment rate stands at 9.3% (158% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 19.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 27,950 business establishments, including 1,569 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Taft Heights is $187,700 , 33% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $201,442. Median rent is $1,135/month, with 29.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1944.

Education

9.7% of adults in Taft Heights hold a bachelor's degree or higher (71% below the national average). 78.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.0/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Taft Heights has an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 6.0 inches. Air quality is rated Moderate with a median AQI of 72.

Data Overview

People

Population1,588
Median Age31.6 yrs
Density5,293/mi²
Male / Female60% / 40%
Foreign Born11.6%
Veterans1.6%

Economy

C+
Median Income$62,125
Per Capita$28,932
Unemployment9.3%
Poverty19.2%
County GDP$63,070M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,155

Housing

A+
Home Value$187,700
Rent$1,135
Ownership51.9%
Zillow$201,442
Housing Units713
Rent Burden29.6%

Health

Obesity37.7%
Diabetes13.2%
Smoking19.4%
Heart Disease7.4%
Premature Death10,697/100K

Climate

Avg Temp66°F
Rain6.0 in/yr
AQI72 (Moderate)
Elevation1,180 ft

Education

D
Bachelor's+9.7%
High School+78.3%
Graduate+3.4%
School Score4.0/10

Community

2024 VoteR 59% / D 38%
Commute25 min
Broadband91.3%
Internet Speed79 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries28

Did You Know?

The median home in Taft Heights was built in 1944.
The nearest airport is Santa Barbara Municipal (54 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.470 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
20.3% of the population has a disability.
11.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 1,569 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 197 fatal vehicle crashes.
273 declared natural disasters on record.