ZIP Code 93243

With a per-capita income of $39,192, ZIP code 93243 sits in middle-income territory, well below what you'd need to comfortably carry a $422,700 median home. The county's 0.88% effective property tax rate softens that sticker price somewhat, translating to a yearly bill many households can plan around. Add an 8.25% combined sales tax on everyday purchases, and the overall tax load lands squarely in the middle of what California communities pay. This area near Bakersfield draws working households and commuters who trade a longer drive for housing costs that haven't climbed quite as steeply as the state's coastal markets.