Golden Hills, CA

5 Apartments for Rent

The hills are literally golden here in the right light -- so if you like mountain scenery, Golden Hills may be the place for you to play Midas.

Golden Hills, California, is a census-designated spot in the rugged Tehachapi Mountains. Located in Kern County, this community had a population just over 8,600 at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census, and it's still growing. Golden Hills is an adjoining neighborhood of the city of Tehachapi.

Moving to Golden Hills

Want to find an apartment in Golden Hills? You're in luck, because vacancies often pop up in this high desert community that's convenient to Highway 58. You'll be able to find apartments to rent, including one bedroom apartments and even all bills paid apartments, in the area.

Since Golden Hills is a small section of Tehachapi, just 12.3 square miles, you can get a good feel for the community and rental availabilities by driving through the area. Also look online and in the local newspaper -- Sunday rental listings in the Tehachapi News might be a good place to start.

When you're ready to sign a lease, you should be prepared to offer what most California landlords require, which is a look at your credit report, your ID and information about work and rental history.

Neighborhoods

This area is a neighborhood itself -- it's part of greater Tehachapi. Located within its boundaries is pretty Tom Sawyer Lake. Golden Hills is a suburban neighborhood with mostly single detached homes and small to medium-sized apartment buildings. Owners and renters both live in the area, and most properties were built between 1970 and the present.

Pleasant and small Meadowbrook Park offers green space for taking a stroll. The larger West Park is just a few blocks away. Highway 58 swings right by this community and offers easy access to central Tehachapi and Bakersfield, which is only 40 minutes away.

Life in Golden Hills

Hike a trail to Black Mountain, or just stand still and admire the views. Particularly around sunset, the golden color of the hills this community is named for will make you reach for your camera, your paintbrush or your hiking boots. You'll also find Golden Hills Golf Course located here, so you can take a swing at that hole-in-one with incredible scenery as the backdrop. Have a small plane, or like to fly in one? Tehachapi Municipal Airport is just a few minutes away. Tehachapi Creek runs along the community's eastern border.

The area is warm and dry in the summer, and wildflowers blossom come spring. You'll never need winter boots here because snow doesn't fall, but high desert winter nights can be a bit chilly, so keep your jacket handy.

Although drive times average less than 15 minutes, you'll still need a car to get around. There's relatively scarce public transportation here, and over 85% of residents drive their own cars around.

Tehachapi itself, of which Golden Hills is a pleasant part of, is a comfortable town with a lot of community spirit. Culturally speaking, this town is no slouch. Tehachapi has not one but two local orchestras, so get ready to listen. The Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra plays five free-to-the public concerts each year, focusing on classical compositions of all stripes. More eclectic is The Tehachapi Pops Orchestra, which performs a fun blend of pop and jazz music, as well as original compositions. T-Pops, as it's affectionately known in town, performs five to six concerts annually, which are also free -- except for Halloween. On All Hallows Eve, music-happy ghouls and goblins get to enjoy performances by the Tehachapi Community Theater, which puts on a big October show at the restored Art Deco Beekay Theatre.

Also in the area is the Tehachapi Loop. All aboard -- this is a popular train-watching site that rail fans from around the world come to observe. Locomotives pass through tunnels, switch tracks and climb the mountain pass, which is all great fun to watch. You'll also find The Indian Point Ostrich Ranch, the Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park and Tomo-Kahni Resource Center.

Due to winds driven by the geography, the Tehachapi community is also known for its windmill wind farms and for its fine hang gliding conditions. Get ready to take flight.