East Bakersfield
Italian, Basque and Mexican dining
Locals head to the southwest corner of the neighborhood for a variety of dining options, including Luigi's, a Bakersfield institution since 1910. “For me, Luigi’s doesn’t just have one of the best lunch scenes in Bakersfield, but one of the best in the state,” Gordon says. Regulars greet one another by name and sit at the bar under black-and-white photos showing Bakersfield’s history or grab a table on the back patio and eat Italian classics at the 114-year-old restaurant, which has a neighboring shop featuring imported Italian wine, meats and cheeses. Besides Luigi’s, East Bakersfield also has a selection of Basque restaurants. “The Basque scene is awesome if you like comfort food, and I’d say Wool Growers does the family style the best,” says Gordon. “You pick an entrée like oxtail or fried chicken and then everyone shares these huge salads, pastas and plates of fries. It feels like eating at home.” Super Taco offers Mexican comfort food like large tortas and smothered burritos for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Residents grab groceries at Vallarta Supermarkets, while Walmart, Albertsons and other big box stores are just east of the neighborhood along Highway 178.
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Single-family homes and duplexes
Single-family homes in East Bakersfield are largely Mission-inspired ranch-style builds from the 1960s sitting on flat, gridded streets. Prices range from $160,000 to $290,000. Completely remodeled homes are in the $300,000 to $410,000 price range. “It’s budget-friendly and offers the opportunity for first-time buyers,” says Gordon. Most houses have dry dirt yards with chain-link or iron fencing. Parking is along the street and sidewalks make the neighborhood walkable. Multi-family units range from duplexes with one-bedroom units to a pair of two-bedroom units costing between $230,000 and $370,000. Newly built two-story homes with additional dwelling units cost $495,000, while four-unit properties cost between $585,000 and $1.1 million. Many homes are owned by investors, as 73% of the population in East Bakersfield rents.
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Revitalized Heritage Park
The city of Bakersfield has made efforts to improve the infrastructure in East Bakersfield, including a $4.2 million project to revitalize Heritage Park. The park reopened in October 2024 after major improvements to its skate park. Sixty-eight new trees were also planted, shade structures were upgraded and new playgrounds were installed. Locals visit Jefferson Park to cool off in the summer; the park offers a splash pad, a community pool and covered picnic areas. Tennis and basketball players can play after dark on the lighted courts. Just to the west of the neighborhood is Mechanics Bank Arena, home to the Bakersfield Condors, of the American Hockey League. The arena also hosts concerts and plays. East Bakersfield’s unhoused population can be seen at some of the local recreation areas. “During COVID a lot of people moved here and we’re a small town that just doesn’t have the room right now,” says Eric Van Denk of Central Valley Property Advisors, who has five years of experience in Bakersfield. “Most settled in the Central East Bakersfield area.” The Open Door Network has secured a $9 million grant to open a new shelter in East Bakersfield.
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Learning at East Bakersfield High
Kids in East Bakersfield may attend Longfellow Elementary, part of the Bakersfield City School District, which holds a C-minus grade on Niche. Washington Middle School also has a C-minus Niche rating. Teens attend East Bakersfield High, part of the Kern High School District. East Bakersfield High has a B-minus ranking and is noted for its Health Careers Academy, which prepares students for jobs in the medical field. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a K-8 Catholic school with an A grade. Garces Memorial Catholic High School serves grades 9-12; the A-plus-rated school was named the best private high school in Bakersfield by Niche.
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High crime and low air quality
East Bakersfield has an 8 out of 10 CAP Index crime score compared to the national figure of 4. The neighborhood has high scores in violent crime, but locals believe that may come down soon. “The city has put a lot of emphasis on hiring more police officers and cleaning up areas of downtown,” says Van Denk. Like much of Bakersfield, East Bakersfield experiences extreme heat during the summer with average temperatures reaching near 100 degrees. The air quality is also poor because of the city’s valley location and agricultural and oil industries.Golden Empire Transit buses
Golden Empire Transit has 7 bus stops in East Bakersfield to get locals around town. For drivers, Highway 178 crosses the neighborhood, providing quick access to downtown, while Interstate 5 allows for a 113-mile drive south to Los Angeles. Bakersfield Meadows Field Airport is 10 miles away and has daily flights to Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco.
Written By
John Moyer
Photography Contributed By
Mark Huddleston
Video By
Lucas Dyke
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Eric Van Denk
Eric Van Denk
Central Valley Property Advisors
(661) 218-1053
247 Total Sales
9 in East Bakersfield
$235K - $925K Price Range
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Eric Mora
Eric Mora
The Mora Partners Inc.
(661) 535-1530
586 Total Sales
19 in East Bakersfield
$74K - $485K Price Range
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David Madrigal
David Madrigal
Solutions Realty, Inc.
(661) 535-0270
45 Total Sales
3 in East Bakersfield
$109K - $350K Price Range
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Jeanne Radsick
Jeanne Radsick
Century 21 Jordan-Link & Co
(661) 218-1676
117 Total Sales
4 in East Bakersfield
$80K - $450K Price Range
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Paris Davis
Paris Davis
The Davis Group Real Estate, Inc.
(661) 426-8388
93 Total Sales
1 in East Bakersfield
$250,000 Price
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Rhonda Anderson
Rhonda Anderson
Miramar International Calloway
(661) 404-7273
24 Total Sales
2 in East Bakersfield
$254K - $316K Price Range
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
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Park
Virginia Avenue County Park
Lowell Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Jefferson Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Pool
Central Park at Mill Creek
- Trails
- Playground
- Museum
Heritage Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | East Bakersfield | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 9 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 8 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 9 | 4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 4 |
| Burglary | 7 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 8 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
East Bakersfield Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in East Bakersfield, Bakersfield sell after 106 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in East Bakersfield, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $415,000, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$434,990
Median Sale Price
$415,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$445,000
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$225,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$233,500
Median Studio Sale Price
$190,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
226
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
11%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$252
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
4,313
Number of Homes for Sale
21
Median Year Built
1941
Months of Supply
1.10
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,133
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,384
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,969
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 Renters
Demographics
Total Population
30,200
Median Age
30
Population Density
12 ppl/acre
Population under 18
34.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
9%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$31,504
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$45,113
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
54%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
2.9%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
0.9%
% Population in Labor Force
57.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
6''
Average Winter Low Temperature
40°F
Average Summer High Temperature
98°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
44
/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
65
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
37
/ 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
College Heights
Midcentury ranch-style homes dot the tidy streets of this Bakersfield suburb
Downtown Bakersfield
Walkable city suburb with diverse dining, recreation and housing styles
Hillcrest
East Bakersfield suburb off the highway surrounded by shops and dining options
Homaker Park
Active adult community and condos just minutes from Downtown Bakersfield
Lakeview
Suburban area undergoing revitalization in Southeast Bakersfield
Cottonwood
Single-story homes and local shops in Southeast Bakersfield
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