The College Heights neighborhood lies at the southern tip of California's Central Valley in the historic city of Bakersfield. Developed in the early 1950s, the community is tethered by Bakersfield College, a public community college with over 30,000 students. “College Heights attracts people who love the outdoors,” says Realtor Lulu Mora who has sold homes in the area for about a year and a half with the Alex Mora Group. The cliffside views at Panorama Park, known as The Bluffs, entice nature enthusiasts along with the pleasant Bakersfield weather, averaging about 272 sunny days a year. The neighborhood is also popular for its proximity to bigger surrounding cities. Los Angeles is about 115 miles south, and San Francisco and Las Vegas are both about 280 miles from the neighborhood.
Many off-road and paved pathways run near Panorama Park for bike riders.
Visitors to Panorama Park can find plenty of quiet spots for reading or walking their dogs.
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Ranch-style homes in College Heights
Many residential streets are lined with neat sidewalks and well-kept lawns. The suburban areas that lack sidewalks have wide streets, allowing neighbors to walk the neighborhood and exercise their pets. Homebuyers will rarely find two story homes in College Heights, as single-story homes are more resilient in earthquake-prone areas such as Bakersfield. Ranch-style homes dating from the 1950s and 60s set on sizeable lots are most popular in the area, and often feature garages or carports. These three- to four-bedroom homes tend to fall in the $275,000 to $315,000 range. Newly renovated homes typically start around $400,000 and display more open floor plans.
Midcentury ranch-style homes with spacious yards are very popular in College Heights.
In College Heights, residents often install solar panels to make use of the expansive ranch-style roofs.
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Served by two Bakersfield school districts
The Bakersfield City School District provides public education in the College Heights neighborhood for elementary and middle school, and Kern High School District provides high school options. Local schools include Myra A. Noble Elementary and Washington Middle, both rated C-minus on Niche. Highland High earns a B-plus and offers Career Technical Education courses integrated with Bakersfield College. Schools are within 5 miles of most residential areas. Bakersfield College offers more than 100 associate degree programs across a multitude of fields, including psychology and liberal arts.
Myra A. Noble Elementary is one of several schools serving students in College Heights.
A marquee welcomes students to Washington Middle School in Bakersfield.
Students at Highland High School can enroll in Career Technical courses via Bakersfield College.
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A dog-friendly park system in College Heights
Panorama Park offers one of Bakersfield’s most popular walking loops. Dubbed "The Bluffs" by locals, the cliffside park overlooks the Panorama Vista Preserve and Kern River Oilfields. Park visitors see a panoramic view, which displays the intersection of nature and industrial terrain in the area. The park’s trails are dog and bike friendly. Panorama Park has also hosted a variety of wildlife on its grounds, including coyotes, cottontails and bobcats. University Park is another dog-friendly spot that features picnic tables and a playground. Siemon Park is home to a seasonal splash pad and basketball and tennis courts.
Dogs and their owners enjoy the dog park at University Park.
A resident enjoys a morning walk along the sidewalks through Panorama Park.
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Shop and grab a bite in Bakersfield
College Heights features several stores, restaurants and cafes within strolling distance at College Shopping Center. The shopping center and neighboring streets feature big-box stores such as Home Depot, Target, Walmart Supercenter, Lowe’s and Albertsons. The area has numerous restaurants to choose from. “Here, you get a lot of great hole in the wall spots,” Mora says. Fast and casual dining is abundant in the neighborhood, but pricier sit-down options are available throughout Bakersfield, especially downtown.
Residents can grab a delicious burger at their local John's Burgers in College Heights.
College Heights residents shop for groceries at their local Foods Co.
Enjoy a great breakfast or lunch at Huckleberry's near College Heights.
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Football games and other Bakersfield festivities
Locals can attend both high school and college football games at Bakersfield College's Memorial Stadium. Other activities include year-round events that take place in surrounding areas. Bakersfield hosts horse shows at stables such as the Rancho Rio Equestrian Center. The annual Kern County Scottish Games event in the spring celebrates Scottish culture through games and educational activities. The nearby St. George Greek Orthodox Church hosts a Greek Food Festival in the fall and serves authentically crafted dishes, such as Dolmathes and Spanakopita. A local favorite is the Kern County Fair, which showcases the area's agricultural produce, animals, a rodeo, carnival and concerts.
Getting around Kern County
Access to surrounding areas of Bakersfield is easy via Route 178, which runs south of College Heights and connects to Union Avenue and Blue Star Memorial Highway. Kern Transit provides buses throughout Kern County, and an Amtrak station is downtown about 5 miles away. The Meadows Field Airport lies about 7 to 8 miles from College Heights and offers flights serviced by United and American Airlines. A common vacation spot about 95 miles northeast is the Sequoia National Park, known for its hiking, camping and giant sequoia trees.
College Heights residents enjoy the convenience of the Kern Transit.
Residents can catch the Kern Transit from this bus stop in College Heights.
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Bakersfield weather and air quality
College Heights tends to have higher air pollution levels than other areas of California because of nearby high-emission industries and refineries, so air quality may be affected. Bakersfield is also a high-risk area for earthquakes, hence the preference of one-story homes in the neighborhood.
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
Are you familiar with the College Heights neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
College Heights
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
4
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
College Heights Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in College Heights, Bakersfield sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in College Heights, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $349,000, up 4% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Charming 3-bedroom, 1-bath home on 2904 Cornell St featuring pristine hardwood flooring throughout, brand-new kitchen with countertops, cabinets, appliances, and fixtures, plus recessed lighting. Freshly painted interiors, new windows, upgraded AC, and a fully remodeled bathroom. Enjoy a huge spacious backyard, a relatively new roof with solar panels, and plenty of natural light.
Beautifully updated 3-bed, 2-bath home tucked at the end of a peaceful cul-de-sac. Step into a high-ceiling living room filled with natural light, refined finishes, and a seamless flow that feels both elevated and inviting. Enjoy the updated kitchen, spacious bedrooms, and stylish details throughout as they create a true move-in-ready experience. The private backyard offers the perfect setting
Whether you're searching for a turnkey Airbnb, a multi-family income property, or a flexible home with rental potential, this versatile NE gem is ready to impress. Featuring three separate living spaces, each with its own distinct appeal: The Avocado Suite: A spacious 2B/1B space offering approximately 700 sqft of comfortable living. Complete with a full kitchen and inviting living areaperfect
Say hello to a slowed-down lifestyle in Bakersfield, California, when you live at Park Sorrento. Our quaint community in Kern County brings you the simplicity you crave – whether that’s floating the weekend away at one of our two refreshing swimming pools, grabbing a bite to eat around the corner at Luigi’s for dinner, or kicking back at home in your spacious apartment. Lease a pet-friendly one,
Cozy 3-bedroom, 2 bath home located in East Bakersfield. Comes with equipped with all the necessary amenities to ensure a comfortable lifestyle! Amenities include stove, dishwasher, ceiling fans, fireplace, pool svc and more! PETS OK!
Looking for the ultimate experience? Vantage Point Apartments offer a great value and prime lifestyle in Northeast Bakersfield. Our gated community is spread over acres of tree shaded grounds, and enclosed patios or decks allow you to enjoy a spectacular view. Complete with sparkling swimming pool and spa for your enjoyment, and close to a variety of recreational opportunities such as rafting,
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
