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City · 34,687 residents · Kern County, California

Oildale , California

In Oildale, a typical home is worth $238,800 and typical rent is $1,281 a month. Compared with all of Kern County, the typical home value is 29% lower, typical household income is 27% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $238,800

    29% below the county

    67% below California

    • Oildale
    • Kern
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,281a month

    About the same as the county

    37% below California

    • Oildale
    • Kern
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $51,298a year

    27% below the county

    48% below California

    • Oildale
    • Kern
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    41%

    19 points below the county

    15 points below California

    • Oildale
    • Kern
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Oildale is in Kern County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Kern County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Oildale apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Oildale has the 15th lowest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($238,800).

  2. 41% of households in Oildale own their home, against 60% in Kern County.

  3. Oildale has the 27th lowest typical household income of the 659 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($51,298).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Oildale

What homes there are in Oildale, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Oildale (63%), but less so than in Kern County (72%).

Year built

Homes in Oildale are older: the typical year built is 1970; in Kern County, 1984.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

At least 94% of owner-occupied homes in Oildale are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Kern County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,542 a month

Kern County: $1,968 a month

Without a mortgage

$504 a month

Kern County: $631 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Kern County: 66%

In Oildale, 64% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,542 a month, against $1,968 in Kern County. Without one it drops to $504.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The Census does not compare Oildale with 2015–2019 because its boundaries changed. In Kern County, over that time, the typical home value rose 58%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureOildaleKern CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.5%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.9%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 8.7%9.8%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.663.122.842.53
Drive alone 81%78%66%69%
Carpool 11%11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 5%8%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer households are short on space in Oildale: 8.7% have more than one person per room; in Kern County, 9.8%.

Households in Oildale are smaller: 2.66 people on average; in Kern County, 3.12.

In Oildale, 81% of workers drive alone to work; in Kern County, 78%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Oildale?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Oildale, worth $238,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 47% of the typical household income in Oildale, which is $51,298 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $85,650 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Kern County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Oildale. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $8,358 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,999

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$234,475
Total interest
$337,354
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,033 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,197 a month

  • Tight

    $1,197 to $1,539 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,539 a month

    Your payment · 47%

Compared with the typical household income in Oildale ($51,298 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,999
Principal & interest$1,588
Property tax$205
Home insurance$100
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$106

You need at least $8,358 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Oildale and Kern County

Oildale is in Kern County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Oildale's own numbers

Typical home value
$238,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,281
Typical yearly household income
$51,298
Households that own their home
41%
Effective property tax rate
1.03%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Kern County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,656
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Kern County.

Everything about Kern County

Buying

Buying a home in Oildale

A typical home in Oildale is worth $238,800: 29% below the county and 67% below California. With the typical household income in Oildale ($51,298 a year), a typical home costs 4.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Oildale 4.7 years
  • Kern 4.8 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Kern County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Kern County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Kern County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.0% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +51% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +88% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Oildale next to Kern County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Oildale $238,800
  • Kern $338,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Oildale $1,281
  • Kern $1,300
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Oildale $51,298
  • Kern $70,210
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Oildale next to Kern County and California
Measure Oildale Kern County California U.S.
Typical home value $238,800 $338,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,281 $1,300 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $51,298 $70,210 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 41% 60% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,451 $2,984 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.03% 0.88% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 57% 56% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Kern County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Oildale

For a typical $238,800 home in Oildale, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Oildale's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,999a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,358
    Cash to close
    $15,522
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $106

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,955a month

    Down payment
    $11,940
    Cash to close
    $19,104
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $113

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,599a month

    Down payment
    $47,760
    Cash to close
    $54,924
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,819a month

    Down payment
    $35,820
    Cash to close
    $42,984
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Oildale and for Kern County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Oildale

1.03%of the home’s value each year

$2,451 a year for the typical owner in Oildale.

  • Oildale 1.03%
  • Kern 0.88%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Kern County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Kern County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5%
12,851
Of those, with NFIP insurance
20%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 20% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Oildale

Typical rent in Oildale is $1,281 a month: about the same as the county. In Oildale, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Kern County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,656 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $31.85 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Kern County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,265 $24.33 $50,600
1 bedroom $1,273 $24.48 $50,920
2 bedrooms $1,656 $31.85 $66,240
3 bedrooms $2,293 $44.10 $91,720
4 bedrooms $2,768 $53.23 $110,720

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Oildale

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Oildale is in ZIP code 93308.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,790: $134 more than the fair market rent for Kern County ($1,656).

  • 93308 $1,790$2,480

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Oildale when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Oildale

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Kern County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Oildale

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Oildale or Kern County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Oildale the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Oildale

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Oildale, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Community Services and Employment Training, Inc. (CSET)

    312 NW 3rd Ave, Visalia · 65 miles away

    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (559) 732-4194

  • Self Help Enterprises

    8445 W Elowin Ct, Visalia · 66 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (559) 802-1664

  • Nid-Hca Palmdale

    520 W. Palmdale Blvd, Suite J, Palmdale · 77 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 9 more
    (661) 526-4013

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Oildale

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Oildale

HUD’s record names them for Oildale or Kern County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Kern Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (661) 631-8500

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Kern County

These cities are also in Kern County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Kern County Housing in California
See 10 more cities in Kern County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Oildale, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Kern County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Oildale.

All guides
Three women of one family lean in together to stir the pan.

Questions

Housing questions about Oildale

Short answers with the numbers for Oildale and all of Kern County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Oildale?

The typical home value in Oildale is $238,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Kern County it is $338,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Oildale?

Typical rent in Oildale is $1,281 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Kern County is $1,656.

What is the FHA loan limit in Oildale?

Oildale uses the FHA limit for all of Kern County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Oildale?

The typical homeowner in Oildale pays $2,451 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.03% of the home’s value; in Kern County, the rate is 0.88%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Oildale?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Kern County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).