$422,604Average Value$285Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
Turn-of-the-century character near downtown Bakersfield
Developed in the early 20th century, Riviera/Westchester was one of Bakersfield’s first residential neighborhoods, and has long been one of its most popular. Its name is a blending of two areas with similar character: the residential streets west of F Street are called Westchester and make up most of the neighborhood, and those along the Elm Street by the Kern River are the Riviera. “Westchester’s always been a really desirable area if you want to live near downtown and or if you appreciate classic architecture,” says William Gordon, who’s sold homes here since 2007 and is the team lead of the Gordon Team at Watson Realty. “It was the original place where people lived and walked to work downtown, and that was the whole city.” The restaurants and stores of downtown are less than a mile east, and the neighborhood has its own local hangouts along F Street. It’s bordered by the Kern River to the northwest, where cyclists can access the 30-mile Kern River Parkway Trail.
A variety of early 20th-century home styles
In Riviera/Westchester, manicured lawns dotted with roses and azaleas are shaded by 100-year-old trees. “It’s got this great mix of everything from little bungalows, all the way to large estates on nearly an acre,” Gordon says. South of 24th Street, each block has a range of early 20th-century architecture, including Craftsman, Queen Anne-style and Spanish Colonial Revival homes; ranch-style and minimal traditional homes built from the 1940s through the ‘70s can be found throughout, but are most common north of 24th Street.
Prices here depend on updates and size, which can range from 1,000 to 5,000 square feet. Homes generally start at $250,000; midcentury homes north of 24th Street can cost up to $650,000, while the larger and older homes to the south can cost up to $1.2 million. “A lot of the biggest homes don’t even hit the market,” Gordon says. “They stay in the same family forever or are sold off-market. There are a lot of families who are Westchester families for life.”
Low-rise and single-level condos can be found in the neighborhood’s north, with layouts between 900 and 2,000 square feet. Prices typically range from around $150,000 to $300,000, depending on size, plus monthly homeowners association fees between $250 and $350 that cover shared amenities like a community pool.
An early century Craftsman style home in Riviera/Westchester.
An early century Queen Anne style home with iron fence in Riviera/Westchester.
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Pickleball at Jastro Park and the Bakersfield Racquet Club
At the 9-acre Jastro Park, kids can burn off some energy on the playground and cool off on the splash pad; the park also has several picnic areas, plus tennis and pickleball courts. The Bakersfield Racquet Club, a neighborhood institution since 1948, is another popular place for tennis and pickleball; the club also has a gym and two swimming pools. While membership is required to use the facilities, residents can join at various levels, from pool-only access to full access to all the club’s offerings.
The 26-acre Beach Park by the Kern River is known for its outdoor skate park, playground and baseball field. It’s also an access point for the 30-mile Kern River Parkway Trail, a multi-use path along the river that leads to other parts of the city. At the nearby Buena Vista Museum of Natural History and Science, history buffs can explore exhibits about ancient Egypt and dinosaurs, and kids can enroll in science-based summer camps.
A Rivera/Westchester rollerblader seems to defy gravity at the skate park.
Riviera/Westchester residents get very competitive when it comes to pickleball.
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Sundaes at Rosemary’s Family Creamery
F Street is home to many of the neighborhood’s locally owned restaurants, like Bonnie’s Best Café, which has served casseroles and celebrity-named sandwiches like the Kevin Bacon since 1997. Rosemary’s Family Creamery is another neighborhood staple, serving homemade ice cream sundaes since 1984. With downtown Bakersfield less than a mile away, residents can dine at restaurants like the family-owned Uricchio’s Trattoria and The Botanist, a speakeasy-style bar with upscale comfort food. Nearby grocery stores include Smart & Final Extra! in the north and the local-focused Fresh Harvest Market downtown; Albertsons is around 2 miles away.
A delicious handmade creation at Bonnie's Best Cafe in Riviera/Westchester.
Rosemary's Family Creamery is a popular sweet stop for visitors to Riviera/Westchester.
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The annual Westchester Fourth of July Parade
The Westchester Fourth of July Parade has been a popular community event for 35 years. The parade winds through the neighborhood, filling it with the sounds of marching bands and the smell of grilled hot dogs. The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater is nearby; built in 1930, the theater hosts regular concerts, performances and showings of classic movies.
Surf Club at Bakersfield High
Local kids can start school at Franklin Elementary, which earns a C-plus from Niche, and then attend the C-minus-rated Emerson Middle. At the B-plus-rated Bakersfield High, students can join over 40 clubs, including Surf Club, Geology Club and Robotics Club. Nearby private school options include St. Francis Parish School, which earns a 4.5 from GreatSchools and serves pre-kindergarten through Grade 8.
Franklin Elementary School provides a great education to Riviera/Westchester students.
Bakersfield High School offers many great sport programs for Riviera/Westchester athletes.
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Downtown Bakersfield within walking distance
Downtown Bakersfield is less than a mile east, and locals can take sidewalk-lined streets like 21st Street to get there. “It's one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the whole city, because everything you really need is within walking distance,” Gordon says. Other main roads include 24th Street and Golden State Avenue; Interstate 5 is about 18 miles away. The Golden Empire Transit bus stops along Truxtun Avenue, 21st Street and F Street. Bike lanes along 21st Street provide another route to downtown, and the bike-friendly Kern River Parkway Trail connects to other areas in the city. Dignity Health’s Mercy Hospital Downtown is in the south, and Adventist Health Bakersfield is less than a mile east. Meadows Field Airport is a roughly 7-mile trip.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is working to build an electric rail line between major cities in the state. The Bakersfield station is planned for the intersection of Golden State Avenue and F Street. Completion is expected between 2030 and 2033.
High levels of air pollution
The American Lung Association often ranks Bakersfield as having the highest annual particle air pollution in the United States. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides, causing air pollution from the Bay Area and Sacramento to settle over it. The IQAir AirVisual App can help residents check daily air quality.
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
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
William Gordon,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Stramler Park
Saunders Park
Children's Discovery Center and Kern County Museum
Jastro Park
Beach Park
Yokuts Park
Transit
Airport
Meadows Field
13 min drive
Bus
21st & Oak
Bus
Truxtun & B
Bus
21st & Cedar
Bus
21st & F
Bus
Truxtun & Olive
Bus
Truxtun & Mercy Hospital
Bus
19th & Oak
Riviera/Westchester Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Riviera/Westchester, Bakersfield sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Riviera/Westchester, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $418,990, up 12% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Mid-Century Modern Oasis--A Palm Springs-Inspired Time Capsule. Welcome to a stunning mid-century modern retreat in the heart of Bakersfield, radiating effortless style & charm of a Palm Springs getaway. This 2-bedroom, 2-bath home has original mahogany cabinetry meticulously restored to its glory & an abundance of natural light. The living room is inviting & iconic, w/mahogany built-ins &
Charming Vintage Home In Bakersfield - Welcome to this beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home offering 1748 Sq Ft. of comfortable living space on a spacious 6534 Sq Ft lot. Built in 1944, this property boasts beautiful original wood accents giving it a timeless, antique charm. Perfect for a first-time homebuyer looking for character and space or an investor seeking great rental income potential.
Welcome to 2310 B Street - a well-maintained duplex offering two spacious units with tons of potential! Unit A spans 1,811sqft with 3 very spacious bedrooms, 2 baths and hardwood flooring throughout, including a bonus sunroom! While Unit B is a comfy 1 bed, 1 bath property with its own very convenient covered carport for off-street parking. The property includes a private outdoor courtyard
Rare rental home available in Westchester on the charming, desirable 20th Street downtown. New exterior plaster/paint, new interior paint, new attic insulation, refinished original hardwood floors, new living room carpet, new designer light fixtures throughout, 2 fireplaces, new stainless steel dishwasher & double oven 6 burner gas range, new outdoor lighting, new sprinkler system, new concrete,
Monthly Rent: $1,200Application Fee: $35Security Deposit: $1,200HISTORIC BRIGHT AND AIRY APARTMENT- recently renovated, 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living room, large windows, vinyl wood floors.This 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment is waiting for you to call it home! A quiet modernized unit, that is well-managed and centrally located. The property is within walking
Centrally located to downtown and civic center. Walking distance to school and jastro park. Updated inside and out, storage unit in back and yard for tenants use, sprinkler system and Gardner provided,private backyard, has both central heat and air as well as evaporative cooling.there is an extra area off laundry area that does not have heat and cooling has access to backyard and covered carport.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
William Gordon,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
4,452
Median Age
39
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
23.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$64,492
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$84,321
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.3%
On par with the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
35%
Advanced Degrees
10.5%
On par with the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
6''
Average Winter Low Temperature
40°F
Average Summer High Temperature
98°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
64/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
51/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
36/ 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.
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.
