Median Age
33 Years
Largest Age Group
15-24 Years
Approximately 17% of Residents
Under 20
29%
Over 65
14%
Taft, CA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$795
Population
7,432
Renter Mix
44% Rent
This small town celebrates the past and welcomes the future
Suburban
•
Scenic
•
Mountain Views
Located about 35 miles southwest of Bakersfield, Taft is a small town named after President William H. Taft in 1909. Taft is renowned for celebrating its history while moving toward the future. Remnants of Taft’s rich past, such as the nostalgic Fox Theatre, are well-preserved throughout the walkable downtown area, which offers a variety of unique shopping and dining experiences.
Taft is also home to the West Kern Oil Museum and continues to maintain strong ties to the local and thriving oil industry. Recreational opportunities in Taft are abundant, with numerous parks and athletic programs in town and convenient access to Los Padres National Forest. Destinations like San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Fresno are all within a two-hour drive of Taft as well.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$38,435
Average: $57,989
Education
485
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
2,357
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Taft has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
44%
Non-Renters
56%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
5%
Other Education
95%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Taft, CA is $869 for a studio, $795 for one bedroom, $833 for two bedrooms, and $1,089 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Taft has increased by 1.3% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$795/month
486 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Taft, CA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
20
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
520 Students
Public
Grades K-5
520 Students
Public
Grades K-5
306 Students
Public
Grades K-5
306 Students
Public
Grades K-5
231 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
748 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
748 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,064 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,064 Students
Buena Vista High (Continuation) School
Public
Grades 9-12
85 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Commuter Rail
Airports
- Meadows Field
Colleges
Top Apartments in Taft
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.