Southwest Bakersfield
Shopping centers and dining delights
Over five shopping centers are conveniently reached from Southwest Bakersfield. The Valley Plaza Mall is the most well-known, with over 140 retailers and dining options roughly 3 miles east. With clothing brands like JCPenney and Forever 21, Valley Plaza is one of the city’s most significant retail areas. The Stockdale Village Shopping Center is teeming with restaurants and supermarkets. Ming Avenue leads to business parks, where strip malls are home to culinary delights. Don Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant is a desert-style pub with plenty of seating. Bakersfield Pizza Co. & Bar has wings and the self-proclaimed “best pizza in Bakersfield” with a vintage Americana-style atmosphere. Smart & Final Extra! is on White Lane, and FoodMaxx is a discount supermarket also on Ming Avenue.
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Movies and theater in the city
Many entertainment options are within reach, like Reading Cinemas, an IMAX Theater and a landmark at the Valley Plaza Mall. Bowlero Bakersfield has a neon-lit bowling alley and an arcade with skill games. Downtown offers a slew of cafes, museums and venues roughly 5 miles northeast. The Historic Bakersfield Fox Theater opened in 1930 as a cultural marvel that continues to light up the downtown with dancing and drama today.Patriots Park, centrally located
Patriots Park is a centerpiece for recreation in Southwest Bakersfield, with two night-lit baseball fields, a basketball court and a sandy playground across a 20-acre green space. Home to one of the city’s six off-leash dog parks, Centennial Park provides tennis courts and a winding jungle gym. The Sundale Country Club has an 18-hole tree-lined golf course with a practice facility, clubhouse and a private restaurant.Diverse housing and Lakefront homes
Southwest Bakersfield includes split-levels, Craftsman and midcentury ranch-style homes built around the 1970s. “I grew up on Wood Lane,” says Greg Holland, a Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Preferred Realtors who has sold homes in Bakersfield for over 40 years. “We bought the house brand new from Dandy Homes in 1965. I was four years old, and I still have the sales brochure. Now, a new generation has stepped up, and they want the same thing — a quality neighborhood to call home.” Midcentury ranch-style homes start at $250,000 and reach $450,000. The higher end of the range applies to homes with in-ground pools or on lakefront properties. Pinewood Lake is a Craftsman-style gated community by a blue lake bordered by towering pine trees. Craftsman-style homes can list from $350,000 to $450,000. Wilson Park Village is a multifamily enclave blending townhouses and condos on Wilson Road. Townhouses traditionally cost around $100,000 to $200,000, and condos can sell between $100,000 and $300,000.
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Bakersfield public transport
Artisan is a car-dependent neighborhood that is somewhat bikeable, with cycling lanes lining the main roads. The Golden Empire Transit (GET) bus system provides public transportation with eight stops along Wilson Road about 2 miles east. This neighborhood has access to multiple highways. State Route 99 leads south to Interstate 5, a prominent West Coast expressway. State Route 58 goes west, connecting to I-5 heading north. River Road, a vital thoroughfare, runs north, connecting to SR-58 and east toward downtown. The Bakersfield Train Station provides Amtrak travel on the San Joaquins line, which reaches cities like Stockton, Modesto and Sacramento with connections to the Bay Area. Los Angeles is roughly 113 miles south on I-5, and the Los Angeles International Airport offers travel to worldwide and regional destinations. Meadows Field is Bakersfield’s aircraft hub, offering short passenger flights to nearby cities.The Munsey Elementary School Garden
Bakersfield City and Kern High School District serve students across Southwest Bakersfield. Munsey Elementary School receives a C overall Niche grade, and the Munsey Garden grows produce and vegetables maintained by third-grade students. James Curran Middle School also has a C, with a cadet corps connected to the California Military Department. West High School earns a B-minus grade, offering courses in business and technology.Air quality in Kern County
Kern County is one of the top oil-producing counties in the United States and is commonly known as the “energy capital of California.” Because of Bakersfield's agriculture and drilling industries, the city tends to have lesser air quality than average. However, environmental regulations and initiatives by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, like offering rebates for electric vehicles, are in place to improve air quality.
Written By
Jackson Hardy
Photography Contributed By
Elliott McCracken
Video By
Jordan Sain
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Eric Mora
Eric Mora
The Mora Partners Inc.
(661) 535-1530
586 Total Sales
28 in Southwest Bakersfield
$64K - $475K Price Range
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David Madrigal
David Madrigal
Solutions Realty, Inc.
(661) 535-0270
45 Total Sales
1 in Southwest Bakersfield
$475,000 Price
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Jeanne Radsick
Jeanne Radsick
Century 21 Jordan-Link & Co
(661) 218-1676
118 Total Sales
1 in Southwest Bakersfield
$285,000 Price
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Paris Davis
Paris Davis
The Davis Group Real Estate, Inc.
(661) 426-8388
93 Total Sales
2 in Southwest Bakersfield
$310K - $370K Price Range
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Jose Guevara
Jose Guevara
Better Homes and Gardens RE
(562) 281-8194
42 Total Sales
1 in Southwest Bakersfield
$330,000 Price
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Miguel A. Hernandez
Miguel A. Hernandez
Diamond Realty Group
(661) 370-2820
231 Total Sales
5 in Southwest Bakersfield
$200K - $465K 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
Centennial Park
Castle Park
Grissom Park
Patriots Park
Wilson Park
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Tennis
Harrington Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Southwest Bakersfield | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 6 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 6 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Southwest Bakersfield Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Southwest Bakersfield, Bakersfield sell after 63 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Southwest Bakersfield, Bakersfield over the last 12 months is $471,990, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$500,000
Median Sale Price
$471,990
Median Single Family Sale Price
$471,990
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$299,900
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$384,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
1%
Last 12 months Home Sales
203
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
11%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$270
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
3,966
Number of Homes for Sale
33
Median Year Built
1971
Months of Supply
2.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,481
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,546
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
998
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
679
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
7,405
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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$1,150 - $1,300 per month
- Parkwood Apartments
- 1-2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 600+ Sq Ft
- 3401 Wible Rd
- Bakersfield, CA
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$1,050 - $1,342 per month
- The Sunset Apartments
- Studio-2 Beds
- 1 Bath
- 400+ Sq Ft
- 4401 Belle Terrace
- Bakersfield, CA
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 Renters
Demographics
Total Population
22,888
Median Age
32
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
30.6%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.8%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$42,979
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$58,500
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
81.6%
College Graduates
13.8%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
4.6%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.5%
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®
47
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
73
/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
41
/ 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
Amberton
Longstanding neighborhood with well-maintained homes between two country clubs
Benton Park
A south Bakersfield community near the city's primary shopping center
Kern City
Active adult community with recreational amenities and a semi-private golf course
Sagepointe
A variety of housing options near southwest Bakersfield’s stores and restaurants
Spice
Laidback urban-adjacent neighborhood with walkability to parks and essentials
Wible Orchard
Undergoing revitalization with DIY landscaping and an easy commute
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