What Are The 4 Safest Neighborhoods In Bakersfield, CA?

Paige Hanawalt
by Paige Hanawalt

Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, at the southern end of California’s Central Valley. The city has a rich history of oil and agriculture. Home to almost 400-thousand residents, Bakersfield is one of the top ten largest cities in California.

Today, Bakersfield is more than just oil and farming; it is now a hub for arts, culture, and sports within the Central Valley. Overall, it is a great place to start a career or raise a family. Residents are polite, mostly of them of working age. The public schools are also above average, providing an array of excellent options.

However, Bakersfield has a poor reputation for its high crime rate, which is 66% higher than the California average. Nevertheless, the city offers safe neighborhoods to choose from.

The safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield, California are CSU Bakersfield, Hillcrest, Tevis Ranch, and Terra Vista. These neighborhoods have crime rates below the US average, high safety grades of A+ to B, low unemployment rates, and above-average income levels. These factors make each of these neighborhoods a safe refuge for its residents.

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4 Safest Neighborhoods in Bakersfield, California

Bakersfield is generally quiet and people-friendly, with living costs described by residents as one of the best in all of California. Besides being only a couple hours from the ocean, it is also a gateway to the great outdoors, like parks, preserves, trails, and mountains.

Whether it’s because of a new job, a business opportunity, or just a preference, moving to Bakersfield can be overwhelming. We compiled the safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield, California, to help you in your decision, using reliable data and feedback from long-time residents.

1. CSU Bakersfield

  • Population: 1,995
  • Median household income: $114,377
  • Total crime per 100K: 1,839 (26% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 5%
  • Crime Safety Grade: A-

California State University-Bakersfield is an affordable neighborhood in Bakersfield, so long as you don’t mind being so close to a university. The surrounding area is fun and friendly, as one would expect in a college campus community.

The Neighborhood

CSU Bakersfield has a safety grade of A- with crime rates 26% lower than the US average. It is one of the safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield, CA. Here, the chance of being a victim is 1 in 55, making it safer than its neighboring areas.

If you are majoring in or have a family member majoring in Liberal Arts, Humanities, Business Management, Education, Psychology, and Education, this neighborhood is for you! These courses are what California State University is known for, so most of its students are taking these majors..

Because CSU Bakersfield is primarily a campus community, 84.5% of the real estate here are studios and other small living spaces. It has also a high resident mobility, which means a greater proportion of the residents living here today did not live here five years ago.

In the CSU Bakersfield neighborhood, 64.6% of the working population is employed in executive, management, and professional occupations. Despite being a college-focused neighborhood, many of the residents in the community are part of the working force.

What Residents Say

  • “Can’t imagine living anywhere else. Quiet, safe, pretty.”
  • “I’ve lived here for seven years and it is a very nice community. Nice neighbors, safe for kids.”

2. Hillcrest

  • Population: 6,222
  • Median household income: $49,091
  • Total crime per 100K: 1,163 (53% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 8%
  • Crime Safety Grade: A+

What residents love about Hillcrest is its family friendly ambiance and its walkability to shops and grocery stores. It is also near top rating schools like Harding Elementary School, Compton Junior High, and East Bakersfield High.

The Neighborhood

As one of the safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield, Hillcrest has crime rates 53% lower than the US average and a safety grade of A+. It is no wonder why demand for real estate in Hillcrest is high. Real estate vacancies in Hillcrest are 6.1%, which is lower than 66.4% of American neighborhoods.

In the Hillcrest neighborhood, 31.4% of the working population is employed in sales and service jobs, from major sales accounts, to working in fast-food restaurants. This is followed by executive, management, and professional occupations at 29.6% and manufacturing and laborer occupations at 21.4%.

If you are moving with kids, you may find Hillcrest as an attractive place. More than half of the population is married; 52% of these couples have kids aged between 6 to 17. This creates a strong community for parents and a great opportunity for kids to socialize. As also mentioned earlier, Hillcrest is near schools that provide excellent education.

What Residents Say

  • “I love the very peaceful and welcoming neighborhood. My son likes to ride his bike around the neighborhood and doesn’t seem to have a problem with anyone.”
  • “I’ve lived here for 25 years. It’s nice. Quiet. Neighbors are friendly. Considerate. Shopping is close. Can walk there if you want.”

3. Terra Vista

  • Population: 4,056
  • Median household income: $97,609
  • Total crime per 100K: 2,191 (12% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 7%
  • Crime Safety Grade: B+

If you like the look and ambience of new homes and newly built neighborhoods, you will love the Terra Vista neighborhood. More than half of the homes and other residential real estate here were built after 1999.

The Neighborhood

Terra Vista’s vacancy rate is 2.0%, which is a lower rate of vacancies than other neighborhoods in the U.S. Like the other neighborhoods in this list, demand for residential real estate in Terra Vista is high.

The neighborhood’s crime rate is 12% lower than the US average and its safety grade is B+, making it one of the safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield, California. Residents here are upper-middle class, making this an above-average income neighborhood. Around 35% of the Terra Vista residents are employed in executive, management, and professional occupations.

If you are part of the LGBT+ community, you’ll be delighted to know that Terra Vista has more same-sex couples living together than 97.1% of neighborhoods in the U.S. Thus, if you are seeking a neighborhood where love wins, Terra Vista is one place you should consider.

On the other hand, if you speak foreign languages at home, you’ll also love this neighborhood! This neighborhood has a wide range of languages spoken by its residents. While the most common language spoken in is English (spoken by 56.2% of households), other important languages spoken here include Spanish, Langs of India and Tagalog of the Philippines.

What Residents Say

  • “Very nice, clean and quiet, everything is close, fast food, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. Nice parks to take a walk, and workout.”
  • “For a larger housing tract it has a small feel. Most people are friendly and family-oriented. Close enough to everything but far enough away to feel like you left the city to go home after work.”

4. Tevis Ranch

  • Population: 4,865
  • Median household income: $82,772
  • Total crime per 100K: 2,615 (5% lower than the US average)
  • Unemployment rate: 4%
  • Crime Safety Grade: B

Tevis Ranch, which is on the southwest side of Bakersfield, is a great option if you want to be far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The neighborhood has its own community park, school, shopping center, and a variety of restaurants.

The Neighborhood

Tevis Ranch is perfect for people who enjoy living a safe, peaceful, and quiet life in the city’s outskirts. With a crime rate lower than the US average and a safety grade of B, it is included in the roster of safest neighborhoods in Bakersfield, CA.

Here, the cost of living is relatively expensive, with a median income that is twice as high compared to other houses for sale in Bakersfield. Despite this, vacancy rate in the neighborhood stands at a low 1.6% (lower than 93.5% of all neighborhoods in the U.S.).

If you are Filipino or have Filipino ancestry, this neighborhood is suitable for you! Interestingly, 4.2% of its Tevis Ranch residents primarily speak Tagalog, which is the first language of the Philippines, at home. The percentage seems low, but it’s higher than the percentage in 97.5% of all American neighborhoods.

Another great thing about Tevis Ranch is that it is a great spot to raise a family. Good quality public schools, above-average safety from crime, and a high rate of homeownership make this Tevis Ranch among the top family-friendly neighborhoods in Bakersfield.

Neighbors at Tevis Ranch are mostly other families with school-aged children, making it easy for parents and their children to socialize and develop a sense of community support. They are also upper-middle income, making Tevis Ranch an above-average income neighborhood. Almost 45% of the residents are employed in executive, management, and professional occupations.

What Residents Say

  • “Have lived in this area since 2009 and have had nothing but good experiences. Quiet neighborhood with friendly neighbors. Large park for recreation, church nearby, and in a quality school district. Several places to shop and eat within a 3-mile radius.”
  • “We chose this neighborhood for the park and the schools. It’s also just a short drive to all the best places to shop, dine, and entertain.”

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Living in Bakersfield, CA

When you are looking for a home in Bakersfield, it is important to seek a neighborhood that will provide you with a safe, peaceful, and conducive environment. Although Bakersfield has a bad reputation for its high crime rate, it offers safe neighborhoods with low crime rates (even lower than the US average), high safety grades, low unemployment rate, and above-average income levels. These safest neighborhoods are CSU Bakersfield, Hillcrest, Tevis Ranch, and Terra Vista.

Paige Hanawalt
Paige Hanawalt

Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.

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