Bakersfield Might Be the Most Affordable City to Own a Home in California

With the largest population and the third-largest landmass in the U.S., California boasts an economy that dwarfs others. Clocking in at over $3.5 trillion in 2022, the state's GDP is the engine powering the nation's economic landscape.

However, this economic powerhouse also faces significant challenges, especially in homeownership.

Homeownership has long been seen as a major milestone, but fewer people, especially in California, can achieve this dream these days.

The FinanceBuzz team analyzed government and housing industry data from America’s 100 largest cities to reveal where homeownership is most and least attainable . This study highlights that seven California cities rank among the top 25 metropolitan areas where buying a home is most difficult, with Los Angeles leading the way.

Dive deeper with us to uncover 15 fascinating facts about California's economy and how its residents build wealth despite the hurdles in the housing market — plus find out which California city has the most affordable homes.

This city has California's lowest home prices

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Bakersfield stands out in stark contrast to many of its California counterparts, particularly in the realm of homeownership.

While cities like Los Angeles grapple with sky-high real estate prices, Bakersfield offers a more accessible market. According to the FinanceBuzz study , Bakersfield's median home price is $383,300, making it one of the more affordable urban areas in the state.

Known for its rich agricultural history and booming energy sector, Bakersfield combines economic opportunity with a lower cost of living. This affordability makes it an attractive destination for those seeking to plant roots in California without the hefty price tag typically associated with the Golden State.

1. California easily has the biggest GDP of any U.S. state

California’s GDP of $3.5 trillion means it has the country’s largest economy — but perhaps more notably, it’s the biggest economy by a huge margin.

The state with the second-biggest economy, Texas, had a GDP of just over $2.3 trillion in 2022, which puts its economic contribution more than $1 trillion behind California’s.

2. California’s GDP can compete with entire nations

California’s economy isn’t quite big enough to rival economic powerhouses like Germany. Still, it’s massive enough that if California were its own nation rather than one of the 50 states, it would have the fifth-largest GDP in the world.

3. Southern California alone has the GDP of 18 states

In 2022, Southern California contributed nearly $1.6 trillion to the state’s total GDP. No single state makes as much as Southern California does — and only New York and Texas generate more revenue than just this one region of California.

4. California has the country’s biggest agricultural industry

California’s massive agricultural industry is responsible for nearly a third of the vegetables consumed across the country and an astonishing three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.

5. Small businesses make up 98.8% of all California businesses

California may be known for its massive Bay Area tech companies, but in 2022, there were 4.2 million small businesses in California, which means they comprised almost 99% of the state’s businesses.

6. Disneyland might make $13.1 million per day in ticket sales

It’s hard to say for sure how much revenue Disneyland generates every day, but passionate Disney fans who crunched the numbers estimate that the park might rake in $13.1 million each day in ticket sales

That number doesn’t account for food, drink, hotels, transportation, or Disney merch.

7. The film industry accounts for 700,000 in-state jobs

Film and TV work is a crucial segment of California’s economy. It’s responsible for around 700,000 jobs and a total of $70 billion in wages.

8. The Hollywood strikes cost California’s economy billions

The months-long SAG-AFTRA strike that took place in mid-2023 impacted more than just the summer blockbuster lineup.

By August 2023, the strike had cost the California economy at least $3 billion.

9. Small-business employment has grown faster than the national average in California

From 1995 to 2019, California’s small-business employment increased by a massive 25%, above the national average.

10. California’s pro sports teams are worth a total of $43 billion

According to the local paper, "The Orange County Register," the 15 biggest pro teams in California are worth a combined $43 billion, which is more than the combined worth of the biggest pro sports teams in any other state.

11. California has an above-average unemployment rate

Despite its massive GDP, more Californians are unemployed than the national average. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate was 3.7% as of January 2024.

However, in December 2023, California’s unemployment rate was 5.1%, a 0.2% increase compared to November 2023.

12. California added enough new jobs in December to account for 10% of the nation’s total job growth

Even though the state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national average, California businesses added 23,400 non-farm jobs in December. Nationwide, 216,000 jobs were added that month, and California’s new jobs accounted for 10.8% of that growth.

13. Six major industries saw solid job growth in 2023

Six of California’s biggest industries gained hundreds of thousands of new jobs in 2023, including private education and health services (150K new jobs), government (78K new jobs), and construction (25K new jobs).

14. Seven other major industries lost jobs

In contrast, some long-term staples of the California economy lost several thousands of jobs over the last year, including information technology (down 36K jobs), mining (down 200 jobs), and professional services (down 36K jobs).

15. San Mateo County has the lowest unemployment in the state

Perhaps unsurprisingly, San Mateo County — where you’ll find tech hubs like Menlo Park and tourist towns like Half Moon Bay — has a below-average unemployment rate of just 3.2%.

Bottom line

California’s juggernaut economy is starting the year strong, which is good news — not just for the millions of Californians trying to get ahead financially but for everyone else in the U.S. as well.

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