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California›Kern County

JohannesburgCA

A town of 86, settled in 1897.

Is Johannesburg a good place to live?

34% of residents live below the poverty line in Johannesburg, above both the California town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Of the 848 California towns we compare, none has a higher share of homes lived in by their owners than Johannesburg. Johannesburg’s trail density is 3.2 miles per square mile, where California’s towns sit at 1.0 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Johannesburg has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

86 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
RandsburgRandsburgJohannesburg
Getting set up

Moving to Johannesburg: who provides what

Johannesburg is unincorporated, so Kern County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRand Communities Water District8 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers77% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesKern CountyKern County provides services here
SchoolsSierra Sands Unified School DistrictWhich school depends on your addressNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereKern County Clerk - Elections OfficeKern County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9352893528 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Johannesburg.

Housing

The typical home in Johannesburg: about $76K

Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 5% in value.

$76KZillow home value

Typical home value

Johannesburg$76K
California$762K
+5%
value change, 1 year

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Natural hazards

The biggest natural risk in Johannesburg is earthquakes, at a very high overall level

FEMA puts 48% of Johannesburg’s expected hazard losses down to earthquakes, and 42% to inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 83% of U.S. communities.

83risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
83Very high riskLowerHigher
EarthquakesInland floodingHeat waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Johannesburg has mild winters and hot summers

The July high locally is 96°F.

2″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter38–55°
Spring48–72°
Summer68–94°
Fall54–76°
Nov 25
typical first frost
Mar 19
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

A smaller share of adults in Johannesburg binge drink than in the typical California or U.S. town

Among 848 California towns, just 3 have a higher share of adults who report frequent physical distress than Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, 22% of adults smoke cigarettes. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Johannesburg is ahead of California on 4 and behind on 17.

JohannesburgCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)36%22%19%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)22%11%14%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)22%12%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)24%14%14%
32 measures vs. California
4 better11 too close to call17 worse
What stands outJohannesburgCA
Fewer binge drinkers10.8%15.3%
More adults treating high blood pressure81.9%71.3%
More adults with COPD16.8%5.1%
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital
18.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Outdoors

0% of Johannesburg is conserved land

7.6 miles of trail.

0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 1,562 acres
7.6 mi
of trails · 3.2 per sq mi

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

Nearby attractions

Balls 8 and 6 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Johannesburg. Close and well known come first.

All 16 attractions →
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Balls 8: NASA/Tony Landis, Public domain · Red Rock Canyon State Park: Jean trans h+, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Trona Pinnacles: Doug Dolde at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Burro Schmidt Tunnel: Kurtis2014, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Maturango Museum: Qfl247 (talk) (Transferred by Citypeek/Original uploaded by Qfl247), CC BY-SA 3.0

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Johannesburg

15pages on Johannesburg
After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Johannesburg

Questions about Johannesburg

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Johannesburg, CA a good place to live?

Johannesburg has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.