In Wasco, a typical home is worth $273,600 and typical rent is $1,089 a month. Compared with all of Kern County, typical household income is 26% lower and the typical home value is 19% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $246,947 to $312,584.
Typical rent
$1,800a month
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Wasco 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
Wasco has the 24th lowest typical rent of the 648 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($1,089).
2
Wasco has the 29th lowest typical household income of the 659 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($51,727).
3
Wasco has the 39th lowest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($273,600).
4
14% of households in Wasco have no internet at home (6% in Kern County).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Wasco
What homes there are in Wasco, 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
Wasco
Kern County
California
United States
Kind of home: Wasco and its comparisons
Measure
Wasco
Kern County
California
United States
Detached house
76%
72%
57%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
8%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
24%
19%
Mobile home
5%
7%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 76% of homes here, against 72% in Kern County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Wasco
Kern County
California
United States
Year built: Wasco and its comparisons
Measure
Wasco
Kern County
California
United States
Before 1960
26%
18%
27%
26%
1960–1979
22%
25%
29%
24%
1980–1999
19%
30%
25%
25%
2000–2009
16%
17%
11%
14%
2010 or later
17%
10%
8%
11%
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 $100K15%
$100K–$200K9%
$200K–$300K39%
$300K–$500K37%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Wasco and its comparisons
Measure
Wasco
Under $100K
15%
$100K–$200K
9%
$200K–$300K
39%
$300K–$500K
37%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA limit for Kern County is high ($541,287): at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Wasco are worth less than $500,000.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$99935%
$1,000–$1,49938%
$1,500–$1,99918%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Wasco and its comparisons
Measure
Wasco
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
35%
$1,000–$1,499
38%
$1,500–$1,999
18%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable
$3,000 or more
Unreliable estimate
With a mortgage
$1,481 a month
Kern County: $1,968 a month
Without a mortgage
$468 a month
Kern County: $631 a month
Owners with a mortgage
61%
Kern County: 66%
In Wasco, 61% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,481 a month, against $1,968 in Kern County. Without one it drops to $468.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Wasco+62%
Kern County+58%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Wasco+44%
Kern County+33%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Wasco+32%
Kern County+32%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Wasco and its comparisons
Measure
Wasco
Kern County
California
United States
Typical home value
+62%
+58%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+44%
+33%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+32%
+32%
+32%
+29%
The typical home value in Wasco rose 62% since 2015–2019, more than in Kern County (58%).
The typical rent in Wasco rose 44% over the same time; in Kern County, it rose 33%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Wasco: typical income rose 32%, against +62% for home values and +44% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Wasco and its comparisons
Measure
Wasco
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
13.5%
9.8%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
3.57
3.12
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
78%
78%
66%
69%
Carpool
16%
11%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
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
More households are short on space in Wasco: 13.5% have more than one person per room; in Kern County, 9.8%.
More people live in each home here: 3.57 on average, against 3.12 in Kern County.
More people carpool to work in Wasco than in Kern County: 16% against 11%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Wasco?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Wasco, worth $273,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income in Wasco, which is $51,727 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $95,200 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 Wasco. 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 $9,576 (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
$2,221
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$268,644
Total interest
$386,516
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,620 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,207 a month
Tight
$1,207 to $1,552 a month
Hard
more than $1,552 a month
Your payment · 52%
Compared with the typical household income in Wasco ($51,727 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,820
Property tax
$166
Home insurance
$114
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$121
You need at least $9,576 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 $2,221; principal and interest $1,820.
The city and its county
Wasco and Kern County
Wasco 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).
Wasco
Map of Kern County, California, with Wasco marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Wasco
Kern County
Other cities with a page
Wasco's own numbers
Typical home value
$273,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,089
Typical yearly household income
$51,727
Households that own their home
58%
Effective property tax rate
0.73%
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 Wasco is worth $273,600: 19% below the county and 63% below California. With the typical household income in Wasco ($51,727 a year), a typical home costs 5.3 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.
Wasco5.3 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
Wasco 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
Wasco$273,600
Kern$338,300
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Wasco$1,089
Kern$1,300
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Wasco$51,727
Kern$70,210
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Wasco next to Kern County and California
Measure
Wasco
Kern County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$273,600 ▼19% below the county
$338,300
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,089 ▼16% below the county
$1,300
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$51,727 ▼26% below the county
$70,210
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
58% ▼2 points below the county
60%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,989 ▼33% below the county
$2,984
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.73% ▼0.15 points below the county
0.88%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
61% ▲4 points above 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 Wasco
For a typical $273,600 home in Wasco, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Wasco's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,221a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$9,576
Cash to close
$17,784
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $121
Conventional, 5% down$2,171a month
Down payment
$13,680
Cash to close
$21,888
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $130
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,763a month
Down payment
$54,720
Cash to close
$62,928
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$2,016a month
Down payment
$41,040
Cash to close
$49,248
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Wasco
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,221
$9,576
$268,644
7.18%
FHA MIP · $121
$17,784
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,171
$13,680
$259,920
7.18%
PMI · $130
$21,888
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,763
$54,720
$218,880
7.18%
None
$62,928
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$2,016
$41,040
$232,560
8.18%
None
$49,248
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 Wasco is $1,089 a month: 16% below the county. In Wasco, 61% 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 Wasco
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Wasco is in ZIP code 93280.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,410: $246 less than the fair market rent for Kern County ($1,656).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Wasco, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
93280
$1,080
$1,080
$1,410
$1,950
$2,360
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
93280 $1,410$1,950
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Wasco 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)
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 Wasco or Kern County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Wasco 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 Wasco 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 Wasco 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 Wasco?
The typical home value in Wasco is $273,600, 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 Wasco?
Typical rent in Wasco is $1,089 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 Wasco?
Wasco 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 Wasco?
The typical homeowner in Wasco pays $1,989 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.73% of the home’s value; in Kern County, the rate is 0.88%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Wasco?
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.
