In Shafter, a typical home is worth $335,800 and typical rent is $1,253 a month. Home values, rent and income are very close to those of all of Kern County.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $315,556 to $385,304.
Typical rent
$2,344a month
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Shafter 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
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Oildale, the typical home value is $238,800: 29% less than in Shafter ($335,800).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Shafter
What homes there are in Shafter, 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 houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Shafter
Kern County
California
United States
Kind of home: Shafter and its comparisons
Measure
Shafter
Kern County
California
United States
Detached house
81%
72%
57%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
6%
8%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
24%
19%
Mobile home
8%
7%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 81% of homes here, against 72% in Kern County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Shafter
Kern County
California
United States
Year built: Shafter and its comparisons
Measure
Shafter
Kern County
California
United States
Before 1960
22%
18%
27%
26%
1960–1979
19%
25%
29%
24%
1980–1999
18%
30%
25%
25%
2000–2009
16%
17%
11%
14%
2010 or later
25%
10%
8%
11%
The typical home in Shafter was built in 1993, 9 years after the typical one in Kern County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K10%
$100K–$200K9%
$200K–$300K23%
$300K–$500K45%
$500K–$750K12%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Shafter and its comparisons
Measure
Shafter
Under $100K
10%
$100K–$200K
9%
$200K–$300K
23%
$300K–$500K
45%
$500K–$750K
12%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
About 89% of owner-occupied homes in Shafter are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Kern County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99927%
$1,000–$1,49935%
$1,500–$1,99924%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Shafter and its comparisons
Measure
Shafter
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
27%
$1,000–$1,499
35%
$1,500–$1,999
24%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$2,015 a month
Kern County: $1,968 a month
Without a mortgage
$476 a month
Kern County: $631 a month
Owners with a mortgage
70%
Kern County: 66%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Shafter is $2,015 a month, near the figure in Kern County ($1,968).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Shafter+92%
Kern County+58%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Shafter+44%
Kern County+33%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Shafter+55%
Kern County+32%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Shafter and its comparisons
Measure
Shafter
Kern County
California
United States
Typical home value
+92%
+58%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+44%
+33%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+55%
+32%
+32%
+29%
Since 2015–2019, homes in Shafter gained value faster than in Kern County: 92% against 58%.
The typical rent in Shafter rose 44% over the same time; in Kern County, it rose 33%.
While home values in Shafter changed +92% and rent +44%, the typical household income rose 55%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Shafter and its comparisons
Measure
Shafter
Kern County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.5%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
8.8%
9.8%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
3.64
3.12
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
81%
78%
66%
69%
Carpool
12%
11%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
3%
Work from home
4%
8%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Shafter, 8.8% of households live with more than one person per room, against 9.8% in Kern County.
Households in Shafter are bigger: 3.64 people on average; in Kern County, 3.12.
In Shafter, 81% of workers drive alone to work; in Kern County, 78%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Shafter?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Shafter, worth $335,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in Shafter, which is $71,215 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $117,443 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Kern County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Shafter. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $11,753 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,740
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$329,718
Total interest
$474,387
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $5,671 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,662 a month
Tight
$1,662 to $2,136 a month
Hard
more than $2,136 a month
Your payment · 46%
Compared with the typical household income in Shafter ($71,215 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$2,234
Property tax
$218
Home insurance
$140
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$149
You need at least $11,753 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $2,740; principal and interest $2,234.
The city and its county
Shafter and Kern County
Shafter 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).
Shafter
Map of Kern County, California, with Shafter marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Shafter
Kern County
Other cities with a page
Shafter's own numbers
Typical home value
$335,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,253
Typical yearly household income
$71,215
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
0.78%
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.
A typical home in Shafter is worth $335,800: about the same as the county and 54% below California. With the typical household income in Shafter ($71,215 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.
Shafter4.7 years
Kern4.8 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 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.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Kern County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.0% +3.0% 2016
2017: +4.0% +4.0% 2017
2018: +5.1% +5.1% 2018
2019: +4.8% +4.8% 2019
2020: +5.3% +5.3% 2020
2021: +15.2% +15.2% 2021
2022: +17.1% +17.1% 2022
2023: +4.8% +4.8% 2023
2024: +4.7% +4.7% 2024
2025: +2.0% +2.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Kern County, California and the United States
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
Shafter 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
Shafter$335,800
Kern$338,300
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Shafter$1,253
Kern$1,300
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Shafter$71,215
Kern$70,210
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Shafter next to Kern County and California
Measure
Shafter
Kern County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$335,800
$338,300
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,253 ▼4% below the county
$1,300
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$71,215
$70,210
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
65% ▲5 points above the county
60%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,634 ▼12% below the county
$2,984
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.78% ▼0.1 points below the county
0.88%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
50% ▼7 points below the county
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 Shafter
For a typical $335,800 home in Shafter, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Shafter's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,740a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$11,753
Cash to close
$21,827
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $149
Conventional, 5% down$2,679a month
Down payment
$16,790
Cash to close
$26,864
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $160
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,178a month
Down payment
$67,160
Cash to close
$77,234
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,488a month
Down payment
$50,370
Cash to close
$60,444
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Shafter
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,740
$11,753
$329,718
7.18%
FHA MIP · $149
$21,827
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,679
$16,790
$319,010
7.18%
PMI · $160
$26,864
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,178
$67,160
$268,640
7.18%
None
$77,234
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,488
$50,370
$285,430
8.18%
None
$60,444
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Shafter is $1,253 a month: 4% below the county. In Shafter, 50% 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.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Kern County (Fiscal year 2027)
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 Shafter
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Shafter is in ZIP code 93263.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,670: $14 more than the fair market rent for Kern County ($1,656).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Shafter, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
93263
$1,280
$1,280
$1,670
$2,310
$2,790
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
93263 $1,670$2,310
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Shafter 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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 5 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Shafter. These are the largest.
Hudson Park Apts Phases I & II431 E Ash Ave, Shafter 9326384 homes, 82 low-income · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 58 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2011
Las Rosas Courts455 E Ash Ave, Shafter 9326381 homes, 80 low-income · 2 bd: 29 · 3 bd: 42 · 4 bd: 10 · In service since 2007 · For families
Westside Village (SHAFTER)595 Vera Cruz Way, Shafter 9326380 low-income homes · 3 bd: 41 · 4 bd: 40 · In service since 2014 · For families
Tulare Arms Apartments225 W Tulare Ave, Shafter 9326348 homes, 47 low-income · 2 bd: 33 · 3 bd: 15 · In service since 2015 · For families
Terra Vista312 Terra Vista Ln, Shafter 9326335 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the County of Kern · Average payment: $563 a month · Average wait: 41 months(661) 631-8500
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.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Shafter or Kern County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Shafter the same as in the rest of the state.
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).
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).
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).
No legal help resource on our list is for Shafter or Kern County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Shafter 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 Shafter?
The typical home value in Shafter is $335,800, 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 Shafter?
Typical rent in Shafter is $1,253 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 Shafter?
Shafter 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 Shafter?
The typical homeowner in Shafter pays $2,634 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.78% of the home’s value; in Kern County, the rate is 0.88%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Shafter?
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.
