Homes for Rent in Bakersfield, CA (258 Rentals)

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

Touring a rental? This guide helps you know exactly what to look for, from safety features to hidden flaws, so you can confidently sign your lease or keep searching.

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Bakersfield's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about Bakersfield and the best places to live with original content written by our Local Expert Shannon Hilson

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property at 16612 Bellewood Pl

16612 Bellewood Pl

BakersfieldCA93314

Smart Renter's Guide: Calculating Affordable Rent & Housing Costs

Wondering how to determine your rental budget? This comprehensive guide covers everything from the 30% rule to hidden fees and effective budgeting strategies.

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Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Entering the rental market? Learn these simple tips and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and make confident choices. Rent with peace of mind.

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How a Move-In Inspection Can Protect Your Security Deposit

Learn How a Move-In Inspection Can Protect Your Security Deposit from the Renter University at AparmentHomeLiving.com.

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Bakersfield, CA Local Guide

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Bobbi Jackson
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Bakersfield Overview

If you’re longing for your place in the sun, surrounded by nature, this is it. Beautiful Bakersfield is nestled in the south end of the San Joaquin Valley between the Temblor range of the California coastal mountains on the west and the Breckenridge Mountains on the east (at the southern edge of the magnificent Sierra Nevadas). With a population of only 403,455 people, Bakersfield and greater Kern County total just over 900,000 residents. Kern County is the fourth highest agricultural producer in the United States. It’s also California’s highest oil-producing county. From Bakersfield, it's about 150 miles west to Pismo Beach, 95 miles east to Sequoia National Park, and about 113 miles southwest to LA. There are many affordable Bakersfield rentals available. Enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of the Central Valley region and take a quick car trip to anything else you want.

Bakersfield Overview

If you’re longing for your place in the sun, surrounded by nature, this is it. Beautiful Bakersfield is nestled in the south end of the San Joaquin Valley between the Temblor range of the California coastal mountains on the west and the Breckenridge Mountains on the east (at the southern edge of the magnificent Sierra Nevadas). With a population of only 403,455 people, Bakersfield and greater Kern County total just over 900,000 residents. Kern County is the fourth highest agricultural producer in the United States. It’s also California’s highest oil-producing county. From Bakersfield, it's about 150 miles west to Pismo Beach, 95 miles east to Sequoia National Park, and about 113 miles southwest to LA. There are many affordable Bakersfield rentals available. Enjoy the laid-back lifestyle of the Central Valley region and take a quick car trip to anything else you want.

What is the history of Bakersfield?

The Central Valley history is a story of adventure from the mountains to the Mojave. Native American settlements were established thousands of years ago in the Central Valley region, including the Yowlumne, a Yokuts tribe. They hunted elk, deer, antelope, bear, and game birds, and they fished. The first Europeans explored the area after the Mexican War of Independence, and Mexican settlers came in. Gold was discovered in 1848, after which people poured into the valley. Oil was later discovered and the region underwent major population growth and an economic boom. Bakersfield was named after Thomas Baker, a lawyer who came to the area in 1863, during the gold rush. He set up on the Kern River. The spot became a stop for travelers known as Baker’s Field. It soon became the county’s most prominent town, with about 600 residents, and it grew to over 2,626 by 1890. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, a railroad stop was built, and the city was reincorporated.

What is the history of Bakersfield?

The Central Valley history is a story of adventure from the mountains to the Mojave. Native American settlements were established thousands of years ago in the Central Valley region, including the Yowlumne, a Yokuts tribe. They hunted elk, deer, antelope, bear, and game birds, and they fished. The first Europeans explored the area after the Mexican War of Independence, and Mexican settlers came in. Gold was discovered in 1848, after which people poured into the valley. Oil was later discovered and the region underwent major population growth and an economic boom. Bakersfield was named after Thomas Baker, a lawyer who came to the area in 1863, during the gold rush. He set up on the Kern River. The spot became a stop for travelers known as Baker’s Field. It soon became the county’s most prominent town, with about 600 residents, and it grew to over 2,626 by 1890. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, a railroad stop was built, and the city was reincorporated.

How is the weather in Bakersfield?

For fun in the sun, it’s a little hard to complain about the weather in the San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield has dry summers and mild winters. The average annual rainfall is only about 6.36 inches. The area residents enjoy around 191 days with clear skies each year. The average temperatures in January are 39° to 59° with about 5 rain days and in July about 70° to 98° with 0 rain days. It hasn’t snowed in Bakersfield since 1999. The record high temperature was in July 1908 at 118°F. The record low was in January that same year at 12°F. The highest rainfall was from mid-1997 to mid-1998 at 14.73 inches, and the lowest was from mid-1933 to mid-1934 with just 2.26 inches. Many crops thrive in this warm arid climate, including citrus, grapes, carrots, almonds, cotton, roses, and others.

How is the weather in Bakersfield?

For fun in the sun, it’s a little hard to complain about the weather in the San Joaquin Valley. Bakersfield has dry summers and mild winters. The average annual rainfall is only about 6.36 inches. The area residents enjoy around 191 days with clear skies each year. The average temperatures in January are 39° to 59° with about 5 rain days and in July about 70° to 98° with 0 rain days. It hasn’t snowed in Bakersfield since 1999. The record high temperature was in July 1908 at 118°F. The record low was in January that same year at 12°F. The highest rainfall was from mid-1997 to mid-1998 at 14.73 inches, and the lowest was from mid-1933 to mid-1934 with just 2.26 inches. Many crops thrive in this warm arid climate, including citrus, grapes, carrots, almonds, cotton, roses, and others.

How do I get around town?

You’re in the San Joaquin Valley, so — have a car, a bike, and comfy walking shoes. As in all California towns that are not San Francisco or mountain villages, Bakersfield is eminently walkable and bikeable. The city doesn’t have a great walking and bicycling infrastructure, but the terrain is level and so it is conducive to getting around in those ways. Golden Empire Transit provides citywide bus transportation. However, buses only run till 10 pm on weekdays and till 7 pm on weekends. Uber is an option for a ride on demand or for scheduling up to a month in advance for UberX, Uber Comfort, or non-emergency medical transportation. The bottom line is you need a car to make the most of your life in Bakersfield.

How do I get around town?

You’re in the San Joaquin Valley, so — have a car, a bike, and comfy walking shoes. As in all California towns that are not San Francisco or mountain villages, Bakersfield is eminently walkable and bikeable. The city doesn’t have a great walking and bicycling infrastructure, but the terrain is level and so it is conducive to getting around in those ways. Golden Empire Transit provides citywide bus transportation. However, buses only run till 10 pm on weekdays and till 7 pm on weekends. Uber is an option for a ride on demand or for scheduling up to a month in advance for UberX, Uber Comfort, or non-emergency medical transportation. The bottom line is you need a car to make the most of your life in Bakersfield.

What is the Bakersfield commute like?

Bakersfield is in the heart of the central region around which all the major CA cities are located. The layout of Bakersfield is more grid-like and tidy, vs. a chaotic urban sprawl, which is commendable for a town with two riverways imposing irregular metropolitan mapping strictures. Commuting from Bakersfield happens on its few primary thoroughfares. I5 is the major north-to-southwest route to San Francisco and LA, respectively. Northbound I40 is the main route to Fresno, Sacramento, and beyond, and southbound through the Mojave and ultimately southeast to Flagstaff, AZ. Bakersfield is only about 100 miles from LA via I5. Meadows Field Airport offers American, Delta, and United Airlines flights from Kern County. Plus, there are two local Bakersfield regional commuter airports.

What is the Bakersfield commute like?

Bakersfield is in the heart of the central region around which all the major CA cities are located. The layout of Bakersfield is more grid-like and tidy, vs. a chaotic urban sprawl, which is commendable for a town with two riverways imposing irregular metropolitan mapping strictures. Commuting from Bakersfield happens on its few primary thoroughfares. I5 is the major north-to-southwest route to San Francisco and LA, respectively. Northbound I40 is the main route to Fresno, Sacramento, and beyond, and southbound through the Mojave and ultimately southeast to Flagstaff, AZ. Bakersfield is only about 100 miles from LA via I5. Meadows Field Airport offers American, Delta, and United Airlines flights from Kern County. Plus, there are two local Bakersfield regional commuter airports.

Why live in Bakersfield, CA?

There’s more than one reason why Bakersfield has grown almost 600% since 1970. Bakersfield has soared in population growth from 70,000 to 347,483 since the early 70s. It has been one of California’s fastest growing cities in recent decades. In effect, the thruway to the Tejon Pass via I5 from LA through the San Joaquin Valley has made Bakersfield a hub for regional transportation and an ideal commuter location. It’s a quick drive from downtown to some of the world’s most splendid mountain scenes, including indescribably gorgeous meadows and some of the world’s largest trees — the breathtaking giant Sequoias. Bakersfield was selected by the National Civic League as one of ten All-America City Award recipients. In 2010, it was ranked as having one of the nation’s largest metropolitan economies. Kern County has a growing manufacturing sector and is one of the top oil and agricultural producers in the country. Bakersfield is also the corporate base of multiple major enterprises in these industries. Other substantial fields of employment that attract newcomers to rental homes in Bakersfield include mining, food processing, oil refining, and administrative work.

Why live in Bakersfield, CA?

There’s more than one reason why Bakersfield has grown almost 600% since 1970. Bakersfield has soared in population growth from 70,000 to 347,483 since the early 70s. It has been one of California’s fastest growing cities in recent decades. In effect, the thruway to the Tejon Pass via I5 from LA through the San Joaquin Valley has made Bakersfield a hub for regional transportation and an ideal commuter location. It’s a quick drive from downtown to some of the world’s most splendid mountain scenes, including indescribably gorgeous meadows and some of the world’s largest trees — the breathtaking giant Sequoias. Bakersfield was selected by the National Civic League as one of ten All-America City Award recipients. In 2010, it was ranked as having one of the nation’s largest metropolitan economies. Kern County has a growing manufacturing sector and is one of the top oil and agricultural producers in the country. Bakersfield is also the corporate base of multiple major enterprises in these industries. Other substantial fields of employment that attract newcomers to rental homes in Bakersfield include mining, food processing, oil refining, and administrative work.

What Bakersfield landmarks should I see?

Bakersfield is a diverse city with a rich ethnic and western cultural history. The city features many national, state, and municipal historic sites, monuments, and architectural attractions. Some are in the National Registry of Historic Places. Some of those include the old Baker Street Library, the First Baptist Church, and the Bakersfield Californian Building. Other buildings designated as state historical landmarks include the Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial, the Garces Memorial Circle, the Truxtun Tower, the Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building, and the old Fox Theater, among others. For more sizable landmarks across the scheme of the Joaquin Valley, you will find the Temblor and Breckenridge Mountain ranges defining the valley floor on the east, west, and south sides, and the Kern and San Joaquin Rivers lining the north side. All are points of interest well worth visiting frequently.

What Bakersfield landmarks should I see?

Bakersfield is a diverse city with a rich ethnic and western cultural history. The city features many national, state, and municipal historic sites, monuments, and architectural attractions. Some are in the National Registry of Historic Places. Some of those include the old Baker Street Library, the First Baptist Church, and the Bakersfield Californian Building. Other buildings designated as state historical landmarks include the Colonel Thomas Baker Memorial, the Garces Memorial Circle, the Truxtun Tower, the Kern County Chamber of Commerce Building, and the old Fox Theater, among others. For more sizable landmarks across the scheme of the Joaquin Valley, you will find the Temblor and Breckenridge Mountain ranges defining the valley floor on the east, west, and south sides, and the Kern and San Joaquin Rivers lining the north side. All are points of interest well worth visiting frequently.

What is there to do around Bakersfield?

You can do anything you wish outdoors almost anytime of the year in the Central Valley. The Sacramento Valley is to the north, and from Modesto to Bakersfield, the San Joaquin Valley consumes the lower half of the Central Valley region. It spreads south all the way to the upper boundary of the Inland Empire. That’s a vast area of southern central California to do whatever you want anytime you want to do it. Walk along or kayak on the Kern River or San Joaquin River. Take a trip to the beach at San Luis Obispo. Cruise down to LA, the fun center of the universe. Or, just bask in the beauty of the serene San Joaquin Valley in your own backyard. Enjoy your place in the sun. Stretch your legs visiting the Carrizo Plain National Monument in the Temblor range. Or, hike in the adjacent Tehachapi Mountains. Visit the historic Tejon Ranch there. For high adventure, drive up the Sierra Nevadas to the overwhelming Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. Stand under the General Sherman Tree. Now that’s a landmark. For action around town, don’t miss the Kern County Basque Festival through the Memorial Day Holiday weekend, the annual Greek Festival, the March Meet drag races, the Kern County Fair, or the Bakersfield Rock & Country Music & Art Festival. Try the Crystal Palace, an all-in-one music venue, bar, restaurant, and museum, and mesmerized by the dreamy Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Cheer on the Bakersfield Condors, the Majestics expansion team, the Renegades, and the Roadrunners (NCAA BWC). They all have their campuses in Bakersfield and generate endless excitement for sports fans of all persuasions here.

What is there to do around Bakersfield?

You can do anything you wish outdoors almost anytime of the year in the Central Valley. The Sacramento Valley is to the north, and from Modesto to Bakersfield, the San Joaquin Valley consumes the lower half of the Central Valley region. It spreads south all the way to the upper boundary of the Inland Empire. That’s a vast area of southern central California to do whatever you want anytime you want to do it. Walk along or kayak on the Kern River or San Joaquin River. Take a trip to the beach at San Luis Obispo. Cruise down to LA, the fun center of the universe. Or, just bask in the beauty of the serene San Joaquin Valley in your own backyard. Enjoy your place in the sun. Stretch your legs visiting the Carrizo Plain National Monument in the Temblor range. Or, hike in the adjacent Tehachapi Mountains. Visit the historic Tejon Ranch there. For high adventure, drive up the Sierra Nevadas to the overwhelming Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park. Stand under the General Sherman Tree. Now that’s a landmark. For action around town, don’t miss the Kern County Basque Festival through the Memorial Day Holiday weekend, the annual Greek Festival, the March Meet drag races, the Kern County Fair, or the Bakersfield Rock & Country Music & Art Festival. Try the Crystal Palace, an all-in-one music venue, bar, restaurant, and museum, and mesmerized by the dreamy Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. Cheer on the Bakersfield Condors, the Majestics expansion team, the Renegades, and the Roadrunners (NCAA BWC). They all have their campuses in Bakersfield and generate endless excitement for sports fans of all persuasions here.

Where is the best place to move in Bakersfield?

There’s no place like home in the sunny southern San Joaquin Valley of California. There are lots of great neighborhoods with rental homes in Bakersfield, CA. A very popular one is the Oleander-Sunset area. It features pretty parks, good schools, and appealing shops. Westchester features historical charm. The Oaks offers abundant green spaces. Rosedale Heights offers family houses with big yards, good restaurants, and its own commercial shopping district. Stockdale Estates is known for its high-quality homes, restaurants, abundant shopping, great parks, and other attractive amenities. Laurel Glen and Quailwood are good choices for families too, known for highly rated schools. Vista Valley Estates is a new neighborhood with large homes, excellent schools and parks. Seven Oaks is a luxury neighborhood. Tevis Ranch is popular for its green spaces and pretty neighborhood streets. Homaker Park, Riviera, and Downtown are also among Bakersfield’s most popular neighborhoods

Where is the best place to move in Bakersfield?

There’s no place like home in the sunny southern San Joaquin Valley of California. There are lots of great neighborhoods with rental homes in Bakersfield, CA. A very popular one is the Oleander-Sunset area. It features pretty parks, good schools, and appealing shops. Westchester features historical charm. The Oaks offers abundant green spaces. Rosedale Heights offers family houses with big yards, good restaurants, and its own commercial shopping district. Stockdale Estates is known for its high-quality homes, restaurants, abundant shopping, great parks, and other attractive amenities. Laurel Glen and Quailwood are good choices for families too, known for highly rated schools. Vista Valley Estates is a new neighborhood with large homes, excellent schools and parks. Seven Oaks is a luxury neighborhood. Tevis Ranch is popular for its green spaces and pretty neighborhood streets. Homaker Park, Riviera, and Downtown are also among Bakersfield’s most popular neighborhoods

Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Bakersfield, CA

Ranked #128

Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

2.5
Pet Friendly

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Bakersfield, CA Area Reviews

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Shannon

May 6, 2025

Bakersfield is an amazing place to live if you're looking for a place to hang your hat on the Central Coast that won't break the bank. Gorgeous natural areas and plenty of peace and quiet make it perfect for those who love rural or semi-rural living.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bakersfield

What type of rentals are currently available in Bakersfield?

There are currently 1207 Apartments for Rent in Bakersfield, CA with pricing that ranges from $500 to $3,000. There are also 258 Single Family Homes for rent, Condos, and Townhome rentals currently available in Bakersfield ranging from $600 to $7,000.

What is the current price range for Rental Homes in Bakersfield?

Today's rental pricing for Homes for Rent, Condos and Townhomes in Bakersfield ranges from $600 to $7,000 with an average monthly rent of $2,387.

How much are larger Three and Four Bedroom Rentals in Bakersfield?

For those who are looking for larger living arrangements, Three Bedroom Apartments in Bakersfield range from $1,000 to $3,000, while Three Bedroom Homes, Condos, and Townhomes for rent range from $1,250 to $4,900. Four Bedroom Single-Family rentals are also available starting from $1,800 and Four Bedroom Apartments start at $1,100.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

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A Bakersfield Local Expert's Top 10 Affordable Neighborhoods in Bakersfield, CA

Written by: Shannon Hilson

If you’re moving to California’s magical Central Coast and looking for a place to land that strikes a great balance between affordability and access, make sure you don’t sleep on Bakersfield.

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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

Written by: Cheryl Bowman

A fantastic way to save money and enjoy a built-in community is to share an apartment. However, a bad roommate situation can turn your dream rental into a nightmare.

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

Written by: Marie Brown

You’ve scrolled through countless listings, walked through a blur of rentals, and finally found what feels like the one. The pictures? Fantastic. The neighborhood seems just right.

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Know Your Budget: Calculating What You Can Realistically Afford When Renting

Written by: Lauren Harrington

Renting an apartment or house isn’t just about looking through online ads, choosing a few apartments or homes you want to tour, filling out an application, and putting down a deposit. Those things are all necessary and important.