Olive Drive Area
Suburban Neighborhood in Bakersfield, California
Kern County 93308
Living outside Bakersfield city limits
Being unincorporated has its pros and cons. “If your goal is to avoid certain taxes and you don’t feel the need to have city services this could be a great spot,” Gordon states. “No one here is going to tell you what to do with your land or where you can and can’t park your RV.” Still, the Kern County Fire Department is located on the neighborhood’s east end and provides quick services to the area. Homes in Olive Drive Area don’t have access to Bakersfield water, so all properties are on septic tanks. “Living in the city versus outside of the limits is like paying for insurance,” Gordon states. “Do you want to take a small hit every month or a massive hit if the time for a new tank comes? It depends on how much you have saved up, and for some, it’s worth the risk because it may not happen for 50 years.”
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Learning at Centennial High
Kids in the neighborhood may attend Olive Drive Elementary School, rated B by Niche and part of the Norris Elementary School District. Norris Middle School has a B-plus grade, while Centennial High School earns an A-minus ranking. Centennial High is a part of the Kern High School District and was rated by Niche as the fourth-best public high school in the Bakersfield area. The school offers a Career Technical Education program to prepare students for work in architectural design, business and media arts. “Being in the county, the schools are higher rated than those in the city,” says Gordon. “People might come to the area for proximity to jobs and decide to stay when they have kids because of the school district.”
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Craftsman homes and quiet streets east and west of Fruitvale Avenue
There’s plenty of variety in housing styles and prices in Olive Drive Area. Smaller ranch-style houses east of Fruitvale Avenue start at $210,000 and range up to $445,000, while larger Craftsman builds are in the $450,000 to $540,000 range. West of Fruitvale, ranch-style houses cost between $370,000 and $450,000, while Craftsman homes cost between $470,000 and $550,000. Luxury homes with Mediterranean influence in gated neighborhoods like Palm Tree Circle and Iron Oak Estates cost between $680,000 and $1.3 million depending on size. “Almost all of these homes are custom-made,” says Gordon. “The lot sizes are bigger than most other places in Bakersfield so most have pools or at least a large backyard. A home that’s $900,000 here is over $2 million anywhere else in California.” Houses have private driveways and attached garages, while the neighborhood roads are flat and wide. Many houses have RVs parked in driveways, palm trees in the yards and American flags hanging near their front doors. A few condos are available in the $220,000 to $240,000 price range.
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Heat in the summer months
Like much of Bakersfield, Olive Drive Area residents will experience many low air quality days during the year. “We’re in an unfortunate position where we’re downwind from Sacramento and Fresno so they export their pollution here,” says Gordon. “The mountains kind of trap it here, but as they clean up their air ours will get better as well.” Bakersfield also experiences extreme heat in the summers with temperatures regularly topping out over 100 degrees.Brunch at Milt's Diner
Most restaurants in Olive Drive Area are concentrated near Highway 99 on the neighborhood’s east end. Residents head to Milt’s Diner for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Stepping into the diner feels like stepping back in time; Milt’s has swiveling barstools and tables with plenty of cream and sugar packets. Locals enjoy burritos and tacos on the patio at Mr. Avocado’s Mexican Asada Grill. College Smoothies and Donuts serves quick breakfasts, as diners can grab a drink and choose from the many doughnuts behind the counter. Albertsons is located on the southwest side of the neighborhood for easy grocery shopping. One mile down Olive Drive, the RiverLakes Galleria offers big box retail stores.
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Fun at Fruitvale Norris Park
Residents head to Fruitvale Norris Park for baseball and softball games. The park has four diamonds, two of which are lighted for play after the sun goes down. Palm trees are seen behind the outfield fences and along the walking paths inside the park. Tennis and basketball players can get a game in on their respective courts, while children hang out on the jungle gyms. Across the street from the park is Olive Knolls Church, which hosts the Olive Knolls Craft Fair each November. The fair celebrated its 31st anniversary in 2023 and offers thousands of homemade items at booths set up in the Worship Center and outside on the lawn. Golfers head to The Links at Riverlakes Ranch, 2 miles southwest of most homes for a round of 18 holes. “It’s one of the few public courses in Bakersfield, which makes it very popular,” says Gordon.
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Quick access to 99
Residents can hop on Highway 99 and drive 5 miles to downtown Bakersfield or take Interstate 5 115 miles south to Los Angeles. The Bakersfield Meadows Field Airport is 5 miles north, with daily flights to Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and San Francisco.
Written By
John Moyer
Photography Contributed By
Mark Huddleston
Video By
Stewart Taveras
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Judy Miller
Judy Miller
Coldwell Banker Preferred,RLT
(661) 387-3583
137 Total Sales
2 in Olive Drive Area
$354K - $470K Price Range
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Diane White
Diane White
Watson Realty
(661) 387-3704
59 Total Sales
1 in Olive Drive Area
$165,000 Price
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William Gordon
William Gordon
Watson Realty
(805) 918-8011
573 Total Sales
10 in Olive Drive Area
$182K - $1.2M Price Range
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Carlos Cardenas
Carlos Cardenas
Responds QuicklyLegacy Real Estate Inc
(661) 387-3440
40 Total Sales
1 in Olive Drive Area
$465,000 Price
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Eric Van Denk
Eric Van Denk
Central Valley Property Advisors
(661) 218-1053
244 Total Sales
2 in Olive Drive Area
$105K - $135K Price Range
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Valerie Driesen
Valerie Driesen
Jeff Jackson & Associates
(661) 384-8524
100 Total Sales
5 in Olive Drive Area
$375K - $515K 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
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- K to 6th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Coffee Rd Dog Park
Kroll Dog Park
- Dog Park
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Olive Park West
Fruitvale Norris Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Tennis
San Lauren Park
Olive Park East
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Olive Drive Area | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Olive Drive Area Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Olive Drive Area, Bakersfield sell after 34 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Olive Drive Area, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $450,000, up 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$470,000
Median Sale Price
$450,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$472,400
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$385,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$215,250
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
101
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
10%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$241
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
2,141
Number of Homes for Sale
22
Median Year Built
1980
Months of Supply
2.60
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,967
On par with the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,232
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,101
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,761
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jun 1412 - 2pm
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Saturday, Jun 1410am - 1pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$883 - $1,219 per month
- Springwood Court Apartments
- Studio-3 Beds
- 1-2 Baths
- 400+ Sq Ft
- 5451 Norris Rd
- Bakersfield, CA
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Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,646
Median Age
40
Population Density
6 ppl/acre
Population under 18
25.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
21.2%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$78,382
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$98,923
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.4%
College Graduates
23.9%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
10.4%
% Population in Labor Force
58.2%
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
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
39
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
38
/ 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
Fruitvale
Northwest Bakersfield suburb near highly rated schools and popular shopping
Eagle Ridge
Quiet suburbia close to shops and eateries 7 miles from downtown Bakersfield
Riverlakes
A private community with lakefront amenities in Bakersfield
San Trope
Gated communities around the Links at RiverLakes Ranch golf course
South San Lauren
Suburban homes with ample parking on the edge of oil fields and industrial centers
Crystal Ranch
A centrally located northwestern suburb of Bakersfield
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