What it's like to live in Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest is a small city in California with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, household incomes running above the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Ridgecrest deals with crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, larger class sizes than the national average, and very hot summers.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Very hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Ridgecrest compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ridgecrest
Based on Ridgecrest's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,372
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,440 a year
- 37% of Ridgecrest renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$50,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,390
- Homes cost 2.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 16% below US
$1,186/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,186 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $253,900. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $253,900 · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 70% above US
559 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 864/100k · Ridgecrest Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 35% below US
17 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.9 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 102°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 32°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 14% below US
31% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 31% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is César E. Chávez National Monument (58 miles away). There are 4 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ridgecrest's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,186/mo) equals 16% of the median household income here, less than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and people who struggle with heat.
Other places near Ridgecrest
All California guides →Moving to California City →
35 mi away · pop. 14,414
Rent $1,300/mo · Income $60,113
Compare with Ridgecrest →Moving to Tehachapi →
57 mi away · pop. 11,946
Rent $1,295/mo · Income $72,957
Compare with Ridgecrest →Moving to Golden Hills →
57 mi away · pop. 9,891
Rent $1,377/mo · Income $95,669
Compare with Ridgecrest →Not sure Ridgecrest is the one?
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