A watermelon stand in, 2008
Mettler’s story
Mettler in pictures
Census counts: 157 in 2000, 90 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2008 and 5 maps from 1934 on.
Explore the history →MettlerCA
It is a town of 140 residents in California.
Population
140
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$230K
Census ACS
Household income
$59K
median
Median age
33.3
years
Land area
0 sq mi
Is Mettler a good place to live?
32% of residents live below the poverty line in Mettler, against 10% in California’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Mettler has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
140 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Mettler: who provides what
Mettler is unincorporated, so Kern County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMettler County Water District10 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesKern CountyKern County provides services here
SchoolsGeneral Shafter Elementary School DistrictKern High School District2 districts serve Mettler; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
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.govWho runs elections hereKern County Clerk - Elections OfficeKern County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9331393313 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 Mettler.
Natural hazards
Very high risk in Mettler, with earthquakes at the top
For Mettler, the FEMA risk score is 88 of 100. Of the losses FEMA expects locally, 60% come from earthquakes and 24% from inland flooding.
88risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland floodingHeat waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Expect four seasons and hot summers in Mettler
July afternoons reach 97° and January nights drop to 40°.
97°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter41–63°
Spring51–78°
Summer66–95°
Fall54–81°
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
97°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Mettler is
17% of adults binge drink in Mettler. This California town does better than the California average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 19. Among adults locally, 31% worry about having enough food and 36% get no exercise outside work.
| Mettler | Typical California town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 33% | 22% | 19% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 16% | 14% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 9% | 8.1% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 24% | 25% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better12 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Mettler | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 5% | 6.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 20.7% | 10.6% |
Mercy Hospital
21.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Mettler
15pages on Mettler
The big questions
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Mettler; the nearest are
California State University-BakersfieldUniversity or college · Public · Bakersfield21.1 mi$8,090 in-state tuitionCollege of the CanyonsCommunity college · Public · Santa Clarita51 mi$1,166 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Mettler residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Mettler
Place in California, United States
Mettler, or Mettler Station, is an unincorporated area in Kern County, California. Actor James Dean received a speeding ticket here the same day as his fatal car accident. The population was 90 at the 2020 census, down from 136 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined that community as a census-designated place (CDP).
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 541 ft
- Area code
- 661
Questions about Mettler
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Mettler, CA a good place to live?
Mettler has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.