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California›Kern County
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Squirrel Mountain ValleyCA

A town of 1,108.

Population
1,108
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$376K
Census ACS
Median age
61.0
years
Jobs based here
34
A commuter town

Is Squirrel Mountain Valley a good place to live?

Squirrel Mountain Valley’s weakest subject grade is a D− for walkability. On walkability, just 4 of California’s 1,063 towns do worse. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 93% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. On health, just 72 of California’s 1,064 towns do worse. On the outdoors, just 7 of California’s 1,064 towns do worse. Squirrel Mountain Valley has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.

WeakestD−WalkabilityD−Hazard riskDCost of livingDHealth
Small town

1,108 people, and everyone knows the way

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

How Squirrel Mountain Valley grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Squirrel Mountain Valley is from typical.

How grading works

WalkabilityEPA walkability 3.7 of 20; 10.5% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listD−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $376K, 5.3 years of the Bakersfield metro’s $70K median household incomeDOpen →HealthLess healthy than 91% of U.S. towns; Kern Valley Healthcare District 1.2 miles awayDOpen →SchoolsBehind 57% of California districts on tests and graduationC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsConserved land, trails and parksD−Open →HistoryD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 61.0; 9% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Squirrel Mountain Valley: who provides what

Squirrel Mountain Valley is unincorporated, so Kern County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet3 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesKern CountyKern County provides services here
SchoolsKern High School DistrictKernville Union Elementary School District2 districts serve Squirrel Mountain Valley; 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.gov
Who runs elections hereKern County Clerk - Elections OfficeKern County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9324093240 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 Squirrel Mountain Valley.

HealthD

Squirrel Mountain Valley stands out in California and nationally: a larger share of its adults have diabetes

19% of adults have diabetes in Squirrel Mountain Valley, where California’s towns sit at 12% and U.S. towns at 12%. 48% of Squirrel Mountain Valley adults have high blood pressure. Squirrel Mountain Valley beats the California average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19.

9%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
Squirrel Mountain ValleyCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)19%12%12%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)21%14%14%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)48%31%35%
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)31%22%19%
32 measures vs. California
7 better6 too close to call19 worse
What stands outSquirrel Mountain ValleyCA
Fewer uninsured adults8%10.6%
Fewer adults lacking emotional support24.9%28.6%
More adults with COPD13.9%5.1%
Kern Valley Healthcare District
1.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
Full pageSquirrel Mountain Valley’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsMore smokersHospitals & doctors nearby1.2 miles to an ER · Kern Valley Healthcare DistrictHow adults are doingMore adults in frequent physical distressEvery CDC estimateBetter than CA on 7 of 32

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

93risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
93Very high riskLowerHigher
Inland floodingWildfireEarthquakes
Full pageSquirrel Mountain Valley’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims0 paid flood claims · No paid flood claims on recordPast disasters37 disaster declarations · Declared for the countyGet ready5.6 events a year, on average · Ready for inland flooding

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Work & commute

Fewer of Squirrel Mountain Valley’s residents live below the poverty line than in the typical California or U.S. town

2.1% of residents live below the poverty line in Squirrel Mountain Valley, below both California’s towns (10%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Jobs based in Squirrel Mountain Valley grew to 34 in 2023, 33 more than in 2013. 1.6% of working residents work locally in Squirrel Mountain Valley.

2%work in town
Squirrel Mountain ValleyCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Below the poverty line2.1%10%9.6%
Working residents who work in town1.6%6.6%8%
Average trip to work28 minutes28 minutes25 minutes

Where working residents work

In Squirrel Mountain Valley2%
Mountain Mesa12%
Lake Isabella11%
Bakersfield11%
Los Angeles7%
38 mi
median commute distance
34
jobs based in Squirrel Mountain Valley
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 2% of U.S. towns
Full pageSquirrel Mountain Valley’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here34 jobs based here · A commuter townWhere people work2% work in Squirrel Mountain ValleyCommute times28 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 38 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Climate

In Squirrel Mountain Valley, expect four seasons and hot summers

Squirrel Mountain Valley has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. The July high in Squirrel Mountain Valley is 94°F.

94°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter36–56°
Spring44–69°
Summer62–91°
Fall49–75°
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
94°
typical summer high
Full pageSquirrel Mountain Valley’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 94°, January lows 36°Rain & snow11″ of rain a year · Rain a yearHeating & coolingHeating & coolingThen and now+1.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

$330Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in May
Full pageSquirrel Mountain Valley’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsPrices over the yearsYears of income to buyYears of income to buyRentsRents

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Squirrel Mountain Valley

15pages on Squirrel Mountain Valley
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 57% of CA districtsHealthDBetter than CA on 7 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingDWork & commute34 jobs hereNatural hazardsD−FEMA risk higher than 93% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
PlacesAttractions18 nearby · César E. Chávez National Monument 28 miLibraryKern River Valley Branch LibraryColleges
The story
Climate94° summer highs
Day to day
NewsWeatherHandbookTown SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Squirrel Mountain Valley; the nearest are

Bakersfield CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bakersfield35.1 mi$1,430 in-state tuitionCerro Coso Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Ridgecrest41.6 mi$1,384 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-BakersfieldUniversity or college · Public · Bakersfield43.5 mi$8,090 in-state tuition

About 1 of every 100 Squirrel Mountain Valley residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A commuter town

98% of working residents leave Squirrel Mountain Valley for work

Where Squirrel Mountain Valley’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.

12% → Mountain Mesa Mountain Mesa 12% 11% → Lake Isabella Lake Isabella 11% 11% → Bakersfield Bakersfield 11% 7% → Los Angeles Los Angeles 7% 7% → Kernville Kernville 7% 6% → Weldon Weldon 6% Squirrel Mountain Valley · 2% stay
34jobs based in Squirrel Mountain Valley
2%of working residents work in town
38 mimedian commute distance

Census LEHD 2023

Questions about Squirrel Mountain Valley

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Squirrel Mountain Valley, CA expensive?

Yes. The typical home is worth about $376,000, 51% below the California typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.