Kern County survey: life‑satisfaction dips; homelessness, crime and housing affordability top resident concerns

Brian Godby, a consultant presenting survey results to the Kern Council of Governments Transportation Planning Policy Committee, said the survey completed 1,400 interviews and had a margin of error of about ±2.62%.

The survey found that when respondents who were “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their community are combined, 57.8% reported satisfaction with quality of life in 2025, down from 66.3% the prior year but up from 56% in 2023, Godby said. He also reported long‑term trends stretching back to the program’s start in 2008.

Why it matters: the poll measures resident priorities that local and regional planners use to shape transportation, housing and public‑services planning across Kern County.

The presenter summarized what residents like most: a ‘‘small‑town atmosphere’’ (about 40% of responses), cost of living (34%), sense of community (31%) and location (30%). On the negative side, respondents most often named homelessness as the top problem; other rising concerns included crime rates, air quality, gang activity, job opportunities, housing affordability and lack of community resources…