Tehachapi: Mountain Living in Kern County

Drive east from Bakersfield on Highway 58, climb through the golden foothills, pass the spinning wind turbines, and in less than an hour you arrive in a completely different world. Tehachapi sits at approximately 4,000 feet elevation in the Tehachapi Mountains, a community of around 14,000 residents who have chosen a lifestyle defined by four seasons, panoramic mountain views, cooler temperatures, and a pace of life that the valley below cannot offer. Alex Daredia works with buyers who are often relocating from Southern California or the valley, and the reaction is almost always the same: "I didn't know a place like this existed in Kern County."

Real Estate Market Analysis

Tehachapi's housing market is unique in the region. With a median price of approximately $385,000, it carries a premium over valley communities — but that premium buys mountain views, cleaner air, cooler summers, and a lifestyle that many Californians pay far more for in places like Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, or the Sierra foothills. The market includes everything from modest in-town homes and manufactured properties to expansive acreage estates in Bear Valley Springs and Stallion Springs.

Average days on market sit around 48, reflecting a market that moves at its own pace. Buyers here tend to be intentional — they're making a lifestyle choice, not just a financial transaction. The mix of property types is remarkable: downtown bungalows from $250K, family homes in Golden Hills from $350K–$450K, and mountain estates in Bear Valley Springs that can reach $800K or more for properties with golf course frontage, horse facilities, and sweeping views.

Community & Neighborhood Breakdown

• Downtown Tehachapi: The walkable commercial core along Tehachapi Boulevard features antique shops, cafes, the Tehachapi Museum, and surrounding residential streets with charming older homes. Properties here range from the $250K–$380K bracket and appeal to buyers who want walkability and small-town character.
• Bear Valley Springs: A private, gate-guarded community of approximately 25,000 acres, featuring an 18-hole golf course, equestrian center, hiking trails, a lodge, and homes ranging from $350K mountain cabins to $800K+ estates. This is Tehachapi's crown jewel community.
• Stallion Springs: Another gated community offering equestrian facilities, tennis courts, a community center, and properties on one to five or more acres. Prices range from $300K to $600K+ depending on lot size and views.
• Golden Hills: An unincorporated community between Tehachapi and the highway, offering more affordable homes — often in the $280K–$380K range — on larger lots with mountain views. This area attracts families and commuters to Bakersfield.
• Alpine Forest: A private mountain community above Tehachapi with pine-forested lots and cabin-style homes, offering the most secluded mountain living experience in the area.
• Old Town Tehachapi: The historic section of the city with vintage homes, tree-lined streets, and proximity to the railroad corridor. Properties here have character and charm at moderate price points.

Economy & Wind Energy

Tehachapi's economy blends traditional industries with forward-looking energy production. The Tehachapi Wind Farm, one of the earliest and largest wind energy installations in the world, spreads across the mountain passes and provides skilled employment in turbine maintenance, operations, and engineering. Agriculture remains important, with cattle ranching, apple orchards, and small farming operations dotting the mountain valleys. Tourism and the service economy support restaurants, shops, and hospitality businesses. Correctional institutions in the area, including the California Correctional Institution, provide government employment. Remote work has also become a significant driver of real estate demand, as buyers discover that Tehachapi's broadband infrastructure supports work-from-home careers at a fraction of coastal living costs.

Schools & Education

The Tehachapi Unified School District serves local students from kindergarten through high school. Tehachapi High School is a source of community pride, with strong academic programs, championship athletics, and a campus set against mountain scenery. The district's smaller scale means teachers know students individually, and parent involvement is high. Cerro Coso Community College has a local learning center, and Bakersfield's colleges and CSUB are accessible for higher education.

Lifestyle & Four-Season Living

The lifestyle is the reason most people move to Tehachapi. Summer highs typically reach the mid-90s — compare that to 110+ degrees on the valley floor — and evenings cool to the 60s, perfect for sleeping with windows open. Fall brings apple harvest season, with local orchards offering u-pick experiences and the annual Apple Festival. Winter delivers occasional snowfall that transforms the mountain landscape into a postcard. Spring wildflowers explode across the hillsides. Outdoor recreation is central to life here: horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, fishing at Brite Valley Lake, birdwatching, and simply sitting on a porch watching the sunset paint the ridgelines.

Commute & Connectivity

Tehachapi sits along Highway 58, approximately 40 miles east of Bakersfield. The commute takes 45–55 minutes depending on conditions and is an increasingly common trade-off for buyers who work in Bakersfield but want mountain living. The route passes through the dramatic Tehachapi Pass, and while winter weather can occasionally slow travel, Caltrans maintains the road aggressively. To the east, Highway 58 connects to Mojave and the Antelope Valley, providing access to Edwards Air Force Base and the broader high desert.

Why Choose Tehachapi

Alex Daredia positions Tehachapi as the lifestyle choice in the Kern County market. If you have ever dreamed of owning a mountain home — with pine trees, views, horseback riding, and cool evenings — but thought it required a seven-figure budget, Tehachapi rewrites that assumption. Remote workers have discovered they can sell a small condo in LA and buy a mountain estate here with money left over. Retirees find the climate, safety, and community to be ideal. And families who want their children to grow up climbing trees, riding horses, and knowing their neighbors find exactly that here. Tehachapi is not just a place to buy a home — it's a place to change how you live.

Tehachapi Loop

A National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark where trains spiral through a 360-degree loop, drawing railfan enthusiasts from around the world to this iconic engineering marvel.

Bear Valley Springs

A 25,000-acre private community featuring an 18-hole golf course, equestrian center, lodge, hiking trails, and mountain homes ranging from cabins to estates.

Tehachapi Wind Farm

One of the earliest and largest wind energy developments in the world, with over 5,000 turbines across the mountain passes, producing clean energy and providing local employment.

Tehachapi Mountain Festival

An annual August celebration featuring music, vendors, a car show, and community events that embody the town's mountain lifestyle and small-town warmth.

Apple Orchards & Fall Harvest

Tehachapi's elevation supports apple orchards that produce a local fall harvest, with orchards open for u-pick and festivals celebrating the crop each autumn.

Stallion Springs Community

Another gated mountain community offering equestrian facilities, a community center, tennis courts, and properties on acreage with panoramic views.

Brite Valley Recreation Area

A Kern County park offering a lake for fishing, picnic areas, and hiking trails in a serene mountain meadow setting just minutes from downtown Tehachapi.