Brighton
Suburban Neighborhood in Bakersfield, California
Kern County 93311, 93312, 93314
Custom Mediterranean-style homes in distinct subdivisions
Brighton has four subdivisions, all with custom or semi-custom homes built mostly in the early 2000s, with Mediterranean-style details like clay-tiled roofs, arched front entrances and stucco exteriors. Three of the subdivisions are gated communities with homeowners associations, shared amenities and different demographics. “In Brighton Estates, you typically have established buyers," Gordon says. "You have young professionals in Brighton Place, which has amenities for kids like a pool and a residents-only park. Then you can have Grandma and Grandpa nearby in Brighton Parks, a 55-plus community.” Brighton's only non-gated subdivision is Spring Meadows, which is, according to Gordon, "more of an established community of semi-custom homes that have nice large lots, with no HOA.”Homes in Brighton Estates have layouts of 2,600 to 4,700 square feet, and range in price from $600,000 to $1.1 million, depending on a home's size and luxury amenities. Homes in the three other subdivisions have layouts between 1,300 and 2,700 square feet, and prices ranging from $350,000 to $700,000. Monthly HOA fees cost between $130 and $180, covering shared amenities like a community pool and security.
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Playgrounds and green space at Liberty Park
Neighborhood parks include the 21-acre Liberty Park, with a playground and soccer fields, and the 14-acre Aera Park, where youth baseball leagues play. Residents of the Brighton Parks 55-plus community have access to private amenities. “It has a beautiful clubhouse and pocket parks where people can walk through the community,” says Judy Miller, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Preferred Realtors who’s sold homes here for 26 years. “They also have a pool, pickleball courts and a nice indoor gym.”Just south of the river, the 32-acre Park at River Walk has greenspace with picnic tables, playgrounds and lakes where locals can cast a fishing line or watch the ducks. The 30-mile paved Kern River Parkway Trail passes through the park and follows the Kern River to downtown.
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Football champions at Liberty High
Local kids can start school at American Elementary and then attend Rosedale Middle; both earn an A-minus from Niche. Liberty High earns an A and is ranked by Niche as the No. 2 best high school in the Bakersfield area. “Liberty High is widely regarded as the best or second-best school in town, depending on where your loyalties lie,” Gordon says. “Liberty has great academics, and they even went on to win state recently for football, so they’re a powerhouse for sports, too.” The Liberty High Patriots football team won the state championship in 2022, and other sports teams include basketball and volleyball. The A-rated Bakersfield Christian High is a nearby private school ranked by Niche as the No. 1 Christian high school in the area. California State University, Bakersfield is just 3 miles from Brighton and enrolls over 9,000 students in nearly 60 degree programs.
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Independence Day at The Park at River Walk
Locals can attend events at California State University, Bakersfield, including sports events, musical performances and plays. At The Park at River Walk, the city holds some of its biggest annual events, like the annual Independence Day celebration, which includes fireworks, a DJ and food trucks. Residents of the Brighton Parks 55-plus community have a full events calendar of their own. “Name the season and they usually have a party going on,” Miller says. “There are also different clubs, and in summer they have water aerobics. From time to time, they’ll do road trips to a winery, or they’ll schedule some type of out-of-town trip.”
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Easy access to the Westside Parkway
The Westside Parkway (State Route 58) passes through the neighborhood, leading about 7 miles east to downtown Bakersfield. While a sound wall separates houses from the freeway, some residents may hear traffic noise. “The noise impacts are more than offset by the convenience,” Gordon says. The Golden Empire Transit bus makes several stops in the neighborhood, and bike lanes provide a car-free alternative. While there are sidewalks in the area, most residents drive or bike to get around. Valley Children's Hospital is right in the neighborhood, and Dignity Health’s Mercy Hospital Southwest is about 3 miles away. Bakersfield's international Meadows Field Airport is a roughly 10-mile trip.The nearby Shops at River Walk
The Shops at River Walk is the area’s main commercial district, just across the river from Brighton. Here, locals can shop at national retailers like Target, Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. There are also several national chain restaurants, including Yard House and California Pizza Kitchen. In the neighborhood’s southwest, the locally owned Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse offers carved meats in a modern atmosphere. To the south, diners can enjoy lighter fare at Smitten, a casual eatery serving coffee and pastries in the morning and cocktails and burgers at night. Nearby grocery stores include Albertsons, Grocery Outlet and Sprouts Farmers Market.
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High air pollution levels throughout Bakersfield
The American Lung Association often ranks Bakersfield as having the highest annual particle pollution of any United States city. “We’re at the south end of the San Joaquin Valley, surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges, so some of the pollution from the Bay Area and Sacramento drifts down and gets stuck,” Miller says. “Once we have a rain or nice breeze to get it out, it can be beautiful here. If you have COPD or lung issues, it may not be the best place for you, but it’s better than it used to be.” Residents can download the IQAir AirVisual App to monitor local air quality.
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Written By
Annie Franklin
Photography Contributed By
Mark Huddleston
Video By
Samantha Houtchens
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Valerie Driesen
Valerie Driesen
Jeff Jackson & Associates
(661) 384-8524
100 Total Sales
4 in Brighton
$420K - $650K Price Range
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Kari Jackson
Kari Jackson
Jeff Jackson & Associates
(661) 218-1485
10 Total Sales
2 in Brighton
$675K - $715K Price Range
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Jeanne Radsick
Jeanne Radsick
Century 21 Jordan-Link & Co
(661) 218-1676
120 Total Sales
4 in Brighton
$395K - $565K Price Range
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Judy Miller
Judy Miller
Coldwell Banker Preferred,RLT
(661) 387-3583
138 Total Sales
7 in Brighton
$320K - $600K Price Range
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Gregory Jewett
Gregory Jewett
Lightning Real Estate
(818) 418-8546
39 Total Sales
2 in Brighton
$550K - $640K Price Range
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Diane White
Diane White
Watson Realty
(661) 387-3704
58 Total Sales
1 in Brighton
$330,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Windsor Park
The Park at River Walk
Deer Peak Park
River Oaks Park
Liberty Park
Aera Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Brighton | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 2 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 2 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 4 |
| Larceny | 2 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 2 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Brighton Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Brighton, Bakersfield sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Brighton, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $575,000, up 19% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$559,500
Median Sale Price
$575,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$567,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
56
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
19%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$250
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,049
Number of Homes for Sale
9
Median Year Built
2005
Months of Supply
1.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,268
Above the national average
1,931
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
4,491
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,585
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,583
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
3,188
Median Age
45
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
24.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
25.9%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$95,736
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$125,741
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.9%
College Graduates
36.7%
Advanced Degrees
21.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
56.1%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
6''
Average Winter Low Temperature
40°F
Average Summer High Temperature
98°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
60
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
5
/ 100
Minimal Transit
Transit Score®
21
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Brimhall Estates
Northwest Bakersfield enclave features large homes on huge parcels
River Oaks
Quiet suburban area steps away from outdoor amphitheater
CSU Bakersfield
A small residential community next to California State University, Bakersfield
Fairway Oaks
Desirable West Bakersfield suburb with highway access near shopping and dining
Greenacres
A residential area with newer homes and strong schools
Pheasant Run
Suburban, residential living in the Bakersfield area along the Kern River
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