Riviera/Westchester
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Written By
Annie Franklin
Photography Contributed By
Mark Huddleston
Video By
Alex Jacobsen
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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William Gordon
William Gordon
Watson Realty
(805) 918-8011
571 Total Sales
7 in Riviera/Westchester
$285K - $854K Price Range
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Eric Van Denk
Eric Van Denk
Central Valley Property Advisors
(661) 218-1053
246 Total Sales
2 in Riviera/Westchester
$190K - $385K Price Range
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Eric Mora
Eric Mora
The Mora Partners Inc.
(661) 535-1530
588 Total Sales
8 in Riviera/Westchester
$185K - $625K Price Range
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Jeanne Radsick
Jeanne Radsick
Century 21 Jordan-Link & Co
(661) 218-1676
119 Total Sales
3 in Riviera/Westchester
$176K - $489K Price Range
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Paris Davis
Paris Davis
The Davis Group Real Estate, Inc.
(661) 426-8388
91 Total Sales
2 in Riviera/Westchester
$305K - $505K Price Range
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Miguel A. Hernandez
Miguel A. Hernandez
Diamond Realty Group
(661) 370-2820
232 Total Sales
2 in Riviera/Westchester
$315K - $360K 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
Stramler Park
Saunders Park
Children's Discovery Center and Kern County Museum
Jastro Park
Beach Park
Yokuts Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Riviera/Westchester | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 8 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
| Larceny | 7 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Riviera/Westchester Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Riviera/Westchester, Bakersfield sell after 36 days on the market compared to the national average of 51 days. The median sale price for homes in Riviera/Westchester, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $379,000, up 13% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$397,450
Median Sale Price
$379,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$394,500
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$520,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$195,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
67
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
13%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$240
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,371
Number of Homes for Sale
24
Median Year Built
1948
Months of Supply
4.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,794
Below the national average
1,927
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,210
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,278
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
986
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405
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
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.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Downtown Bakersfield
Walkable city suburb with diverse dining, recreation and housing styles
Homaker Park
Active adult community and condos just minutes from Downtown Bakersfield
Oildale
Northern neighborhood of Bakersfield next to acres of oil fields
Oleander-Sunset
One of Bakersfield's oldest neighborhoods with diverse eats and a variety of homes
Park Stockdale
Suburban, central to everything, with a new freeway running right through it
Benton Park
A south Bakersfield community near the city's primary shopping center
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