Bakersfield is a city at the southern end of California’s San Joaquin Valley, ringed by farmland and framed by the Sierra Nevada foothills to the east. It grew up on oil and agriculture, and it spreads out wide and flat, with the Kern River cutting across its northern edge.
If you’re moving to Bakersfield, the best neighborhoods include Downtown for walkable city living, Oleander Sunset for older central homes, and Seven Oaks for large houses on the southwest side. This guide breaks down seven Bakersfield neighborhoods by type of housing, commute, price, and the tradeoffs between them, so you can find the best neighborhoods in Bakersfield for the way you actually live. In a city this spread out, the big questions are how far you want to be from downtown, whether you want an older central home or a newer one on the edge, and how much yard you need.
Quick Guide: Best neighborhoods in Bakersfield for…
- Downtown: best for walkable streets, older apartments, and city life.
- Oleander Sunset: best for lower prices, mid-century houses, and a central location.
- Riviera – Westchester: best for tree-lined streets, mid-century homes, and river paths.
- CSU Bakersfield: best for roomy apartments, southwest access, and university events.
- Rio Bravo: best for larger new houses, big lots, and river recreation.
- Seven Oaks: best for spacious homes, pools, and a golf-course setting.
- Laurelglen: best for single-family ranch houses, quiet streets, and southwest shopping.
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At a Glance: Choosing Where to Live in Bakersfield
- Central or edge. Older, cheaper homes are in the central neighborhoods near downtown. Newer, larger houses are out on the southwest and northeast edges, where lots grow and prices climb.
- You’ll need a car almost everywhere. Bakersfield is spread out and built around driving. Downtown is the one pocket where you can walk to daily errands, so across the rest of the city it’s parking, not the commute, that tends to vary from block to block.
- Rent runs below the coastal cities. As of July 2026, the average 1-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,300 and a 2-bedroom apartment for about $1,525, based on Trulia data.
- Houses over apartments. Single-family houses are the norm across town. Apartments cluster downtown, near CSU Bakersfield, and along the main commercial roads.
Bakersfield neighborhood deep-dives
Downtown: walkable city living
Downtown Bakersfield is the one part of the city built for walking. Chester Avenue runs through the middle, lined with old brick storefronts and restaurants, and the 1930 Fox Theater with its tall neon marquee stands a couple of blocks west on H Street. The Bakersfield Museum of Art and the green paths of Central Park at Mill Creek are a short walk from most addresses, and you can cover a day’s errands on foot in a way that’s rare in this city.
This is the easiest place in Bakersfield to get by without a car. Golden Empire Transit (GET) buses converge downtown, and the Amtrak San Joaquins trains stop at the downtown station. Street parking is metered on the main blocks and gets tight around midday, though it opens up in the evenings. Driving to the rest of the city is quick, with most destinations 10 to 20 minutes away outside rush hour.
Rentals are the main option downtown, and the buildings are older, from converted upper-floor apartments to small mid-century complexes. A typical 2-bedroom apartment on the market is about 1,018 square feet (as of July 2026), roomier than the compact units near campus. Homes rarely come up for sale here, so this is mostly a place to rent.
The Tradeoff: You give up space and a yard for walkability. Downtown has the shortest errands in the city, but the homes are older and smaller, and buying is hard when so little comes up for sale.
If Not Here, Then… Try Riviera – Westchester, just north, where tree-lined streets and mid-century houses give you more room while keeping you close to downtown.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,535.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,940.
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Oleander Sunset: older central homes at a lower price
Oleander Sunset is one of the older central neighborhoods, just southwest of downtown off California Avenue. The streets are flat and gridded, shaded by mature trees, with small parks and corner markets mixed in among the houses. Beale Park, with its band shell and duck pond, draws weekend crowds nearby, and downtown is only minutes away.
You’ll want a car here, but parking is the easy part. The wide residential streets have plenty of free curb space, and many houses have a driveway. Downtown is about 5 to 10 minutes north, and reaching the southwest shopping district takes around 15 minutes with light traffic.
Houses on the market are small and older, many built mid-century on modest lots. A typical 3-bedroom house listed for sale is about 1,324 square feet (as of July 2026), compact next to the newer houses on the edges of town. Rentals are plentiful too, with roughly 89 rental units available, mostly apartments (as of August 2026), so you can rent or buy without leaving the neighborhood.
The Tradeoff: The homes are older and smaller than the newer houses at the city’s edges, but prices are lower than the newer parts of Bakersfield and you’re minutes from downtown.
If Not Here, Then… Try Downtown, a few minutes north, if you’d rather trade the yard for walkable streets and a shorter errand list.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $995.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,198.
- Average list price (3BR House): $344,500.
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Riviera – Westchester: tree-lined mid-century streets near the river
North of downtown, Riviera – Westchester spreads across quiet, tree-lined streets between Chester Avenue and the Kern River. The Kern County Museum and its outdoor pioneer village stand along Chester at the neighborhood’s edge, and the Kern River Parkway bike path runs nearby for long walks and rides along the water. It’s an older, settled part of town with a calmer feel than the busy commercial roads a few blocks away.
Parking is rarely a problem, with driveways and roomy streets throughout. A car is still how you get around, but you’re close in: downtown is about 10 minutes south, and the drive slows only a little at rush hour.
Mid-century single-family houses are the signature here, many with the wide eaves and low rooflines of the era. Fireplaces are common, appearing in about 71% of the houses listed for sale (as of August 2026), fitting for the age of the type of housing. The lots are generous, and mature landscaping gives the streets their shade.
The Tradeoff: You get space, trees, and a short hop to downtown, but the houses are older, so expect mid-century layouts and the upkeep that comes with age.
If Not Here, Then… Try Oleander Sunset if you want a similar older-home feel at a lower price, a little closer to the south side of downtown.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,198.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,510.
- Average list price (3BR House): $442,350.
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CSU Bakersfield: apartments near the university
The neighborhood around California State University, Bakersfield is one of the city’s denser rental areas, on the flat southwest grid off Stockdale Highway. Apartment communities, shops, and casual restaurants line the wide arterial roads, and the university’s open lawns and events draw people from across the city. Errands are an easy drive, though little is walkable beyond the campus edge.
This is car territory, and parking is easy, with large lots at the apartment complexes and open street parking on the side roads. Downtown is about 15 minutes northeast, a straightforward drive that thickens only mildly at rush hour.
Apartments are the main option here, and they’re more spacious than the older units downtown. A typical 2-bedroom apartment on the market is about 992 square feet (as of July 2026), and one- and two-bedroom units make up almost all of what’s available. Single-family houses fill the blocks just beyond the apartment belt.
The Tradeoff: Rents are a bit higher than the older central neighborhoods, but you get newer, larger apartments and quick access to the southwest’s shops and jobs.
If Not Here, Then… Try Laurelglen nearby if you’d rather own a single-family house on a quiet street while staying on the southwest side.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,560.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,750.
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Rio Bravo: larger new houses on the northeast edge
Rio Bravo is out on the northeast edge, where the city gives way to open country and the Kern River bends toward the foothills. It’s named for that river country, and the Kern River Canyon, Hart Memorial Park, and Lake Ming are all a short drive out for hiking, fishing, and boating. The area is quieter and more spread out than the central grid, built around newer subdivisions.
A car is essential this far out, and parking is a non-issue, with two-car garages and long driveways the norm. The trade is distance: downtown is roughly 20 to 25 minutes southwest, and longer in the morning rush, so it’s a longer daily drive in exchange for more house and land.
Newer single-family houses dominate Rio Bravo, larger and more modern than the central neighborhoods. The lots are large compared with the close-in areas, with the typical 4-bedroom house on the market on about a 10,230-square-foot lot (as of July 2026). This side of town also has a large for-sale inventory, with roughly 105 for-sale listings, mostly houses (as of August 2026), so buyers have room to choose.
The Tradeoff: You get a newer, bigger house and easy access to river recreation, but you’re a real drive from downtown and the central shopping.
If Not Here, Then… Try Seven Oaks on the southwest side for a similar newer, larger house closer to the city’s main shopping, though at a higher price.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,545.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,860.
- Average list price (4BR House): $526,995.
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Seven Oaks: large houses on the southwest side
Seven Oaks is a planned community on the southwest side, built around a golf course and wide, curving streets. It’s one of Bakersfield’s newer master-planned areas. The Park at River Walk, a large city park with lakes and an amphitheater, is close by along Stockdale Highway for walks, concerts, and open lawns, and the southwest commercial district and its restaurants are a short drive away.
Driving is a given, and parking is effortless, with three-car garages and broad driveways common on these lots. Downtown is about 20 minutes northeast, an easy off-peak drive that slows at rush hour.
Large single-family houses are the standard in Seven Oaks, and many have a pool out back. About 61% of the houses listed for sale have a pool (as of August 2026), a real draw in the hot valley summers. Expect newer stucco-and-tile construction, attached garages, and landscaped yards on generous lots.
The Tradeoff: You get one of the largest, newest houses in the city with resort-style yards, but it comes at the top of Bakersfield’s price range and a longer trip downtown.
If Not Here, Then… Try Laurelglen nearby for a settled southwest neighborhood with similar single-family houses at a lower price.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average list price (4BR House): $700,000.
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Laurelglen: single-family houses on the southwest side
Laurelglen is a settled southwest neighborhood of single-family houses on calm, curving streets. The Marketplace, an open-air shopping and dining district along Ming Avenue, is close by for errands, movies, and weekend meals, and several city parks are within a short drive. It’s a quieter, residential part of the southwest without the newness of the master-planned tracts farther out.
Parking is easy, with driveways and garages standard and the streets uncrowded. A car handles everything here. Downtown is about 15 minutes northeast, and the southwest’s shops and offices are just minutes away, which keeps daily driving short.
Single-family houses are nearly the whole picture here, many built as one-story ranch homes. Three-bedroom houses are the most common listing, making up 19 of the 24 houses on the market (as of July 2026), on comfortable lots with mature yards. Prices land in the middle of the city’s range, below the newer southwest tracts but above the older central neighborhoods.
The Tradeoff: You get a roomy single-family house and quick access to southwest shopping, but the homes are older than the newest tracts and the streets are purely residential, so little is within walking distance.
If Not Here, Then… Try Seven Oaks nearby for a newer, larger house near the golf course, if a higher price and a bit more distance from downtown work for you.
As of July 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,675.
- Average list price (3BR House): $425,000.
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The Comparison Index
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent (2BR Apartment) | Avg Home Price | Type of Housing | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $1,940 | – | Older apartments and small complexes | Walkable and urban |
| Oleander Sunset | $1,198 | $344,500 (3BR house) | Mid-century houses and apartments | Older and central |
| Riviera – Westchester | $1,510 | $442,350 (3BR house) | Mid-century single-family houses | Tree-lined and quiet |
| CSU Bakersfield | $1,750 | – | Apartment communities and houses | University-area rentals |
| Rio Bravo | $1,860 | $526,995 (4BR house) | Larger newer single-family houses | Riverside and spread out |
| Seven Oaks | – | $700,000 (4BR house) | Large single-family houses | Golf-course community |
| Laurelglen | $1,675 | $425,000 (3BR house) | Single-family ranch houses | Quiet southwest |
How to Pick a Bakersfield Neighborhood
Start with the type of housing and how far you want to be from downtown, because in Bakersfield those two choices decide most of the rest. The best neighborhoods in Bakersfield for walkability are downtown and the older central grid, where errands are close and homes are cheaper, though older and smaller. If you want a newer, larger house with a real yard, the southwest (Seven Oaks, Laurelglen) and the northeast (Rio Bravo) give you more room, more garage, and often a pool, in exchange for a longer drive and a higher price.
Renters have the widest choice near CSU Bakersfield and downtown, where apartments are common and the units are largest out by the university. Buyers on a tighter budget do best in the central neighborhoods like Oleander Sunset, while the top of the market is on the edges of town.
Whatever you’re weighing, go drive the streets at different times of day. Bakersfield neighborhoods are flat and easy to explore, and 20 minutes behind the wheel tells you more about a commute than any map.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Bakersfield, CA?
As of July 2026, the average list price for a 3-bedroom house in Bakersfield is about $397,110, based on Trulia data. Across the neighborhoods covered here, prices range from around $344,500 for a 3-bedroom house in Oleander Sunset to about $700,000 for a 4-bedroom house in Seven Oaks.
What is the average rent in Bakersfield, CA?
As of July 2026, the average rent in Bakersfield is about $1,300 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $1,525 for a 2-bedroom apartment, based on Trulia data. You can check current figures on the average rent in Bakersfield page.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Bakersfield, CA?
Seven Oaks and Rio Bravo are at the higher end of the market. Seven Oaks averages about $700,000 for a 4-bedroom house, while Rio Bravo runs about $526,995 for a 4-bedroom house, with 2-bedroom apartments there renting for around $1,860 (as of July 2026, based on Trulia data).
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Bakersfield, CA?
Oleander Sunset stands out for lower prices, with 3-bedroom houses listed for about $344,500 and 1-bedroom apartments renting for around $995 (as of July 2026, based on Trulia data). Its 2-bedroom apartments average about $1,198, below the newer areas at the city’s edges.
Is Bakersfield, CA walkable?
Mostly no. Bakersfield is a spread-out, car-dependent city, and driving is the default almost everywhere. The clear exception is downtown, where you can walk to restaurants, shops, and green space like Central Park at Mill Creek. Older central neighborhoods such as Oleander Sunset and Riviera – Westchester are flat and pleasant for walks, but you’ll still drive for most errands.
What is commuting like in Bakersfield, CA?
Commuting in Bakersfield is mostly by car, and the flat street grid keeps trips short by big-city standards. Most neighborhoods are within about 10 to 25 minutes of downtown outside rush hour, with the central areas closest and the northeast and southwest edges farthest. Golden Empire Transit buses run routes across the city, and the downtown Amtrak San Joaquins station connects Bakersfield to the rest of the San Joaquin Valley by rail. Highways CA-99 and CA-58 carry most cross-town and regional traffic.
