Ridgecrest, CA vs Tehachapi, CA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricRidgecrest, CATehachapi, CA
Population28,22511,946
Median Household Income$89,250$72,957
Median Rent$1,186/mo$1,295/mo
Median Home Value$253,900$355,500
Cost of Living (US = 100)101101
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income36.8%39.4%
Poverty Rate12.5%13.9%
Unemployment Rate4.7%9% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k559402
Property Crime Rate /100k8641,682
Median AQI7070
Good AQI Days /yr6464
Summer Highs102°F84°F
Winter Lows32°F31°F
Snowfall1 in/yr1 in/yr
Avg Commute16.9 min27 min
Hospitals11
Avg Hospital Rating—3.0 / 5
Students per Teacher21.723.8
College Degree Rate30.9%15.5%
Foreign-Born %7.7%13.4%
Population Growth (2020–2025)+1.4%-8.4%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.