BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A newly released real estate appraisal report has found that Bakersfield is significantly more accessible for Californians to purchase homes, compared to the rest of the state.

As of March 2026, Bakersfield’s affordability index stood at 33%, compared to California’s 15%.

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Specifically, the minimum qualifying income for a medium-priced home in Bakersfield is about $96,800 versus $213,200 statewide.

The March Crabtree Report, produced by Affiliated Appraisers, compared California’s medium home was just under $890,000 — nearly 120% higher than Bakersfield’s — which was up slightly between March and February 2026.

The mean price per square foot for Bakersfield homes was reported to be in March, marking a 1.5% increase since February.

Crabtree report shows Bakersfield home sales declining by 30%

The statewide average per square foot increased 4.2% between March and February, increasing the California average to be about $428. The report found that Bakersfield’s price per square foot is about 56% lower compared to the rest of the state.

The report also found that the supply for single-family homes in Bakersfield increased by 9.2% and demand rose by 13.1% in March. The median price of a home reached $406,250 — up about 6.2% from March 2025.

This comes as Bakerfield’s unemployment rate rose to 9.5% in Feburary, up 0.2% from this time last year and as of March, Kern County ranked 49th out of California’s 58 counties in unemployment.

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