What are the schools like in Ridgecrest, CA?

Ridgecrest is served primarily by Sierra Sands Unified. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.9:1.

What is the median household income in Ridgecrest?

The median household income in Ridgecrest, CA is $85,872 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.2%.

What is the weather like in Ridgecrest, CA?

Ridgecrest has an average high temperature of 60.1°F in January and 104.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 4.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.5 inches.

Ridgecrest, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ridgecrest, CA affordable or expensive?

Ridgecrest's cost of living index is 102, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ridgecrest is 2% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $224,600 and the median rent is $1,133 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ridgecrest, CA?

Ridgecrest has a violent crime rate of 675.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1074.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ridgecrest, CA a Good Place to Live?

Ridgecrest is a small city of 28,118 in California, with a median household income of $85,872 and a 9.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 102 (US average = 100), which is 2% above the national average.

Strengths: Ridgecrest stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ridgecrest is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ridgecrest city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.2

Ridgecrest's overall cost of living index is 102.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ridgecrest costs roughly 2% more than the average American city.

Metric	Ridgecrest, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$224,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,133	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$85,872	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Ridgecrest's violent crime rate is 675.9 per 100,000 residents — 78% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

675.9 /100k

Property Crime

1074.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ridgecrest is served primarily by Sierra Sands Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ridgecrest, CA	National Avg
School District	Sierra Sands Unified	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	33.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ridgecrest sees average highs of 60.1°F in January and 104.6°F in July, with 4.7 inches of annual precipitation and 0.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ridgecrest, CA
Average High — January	60.1°F
Average High — July	104.6°F
Annual Precipitation	4.7"
Annual Snowfall	0.5"

Demographics

Metric	Ridgecrest, CA	National Avg
Population	28,118	—
Median Age	35.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	72.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.5%	18.9%
Asian	3.8%	6.3%
Under 18	26.1%	22.2%
65 and over	13.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Ridgecrest Heights, CA 3 mi China Lake Acres, CA 6 mi Inyokern, CA 9 mi Johannesburg, CA 18 mi Searles Valley, CA 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

93555

Ridgecrest vs Other Cities

Ridgecrest, CA vs Ridgecrest Heights, CA Ridgecrest, CA vs China Lake Acres, CA Ridgecrest, CA vs Inyokern, CA Ridgecrest, CA vs Johannesburg, CA Ridgecrest, CA vs Searles Valley, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ridgecrest, CA affordable or expensive?

Ridgecrest's cost of living index is 102, where 100 is the national average. That puts Ridgecrest roughly 2% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $224,600 and median rent is $1,133/month.

What is the crime rate in Ridgecrest, CA?

Ridgecrest's violent crime rate is 675.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1074.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ridgecrest?

Public schools in Ridgecrest are operated by Sierra Sands Unified. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.9:1. 33.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ridgecrest, CA a good place to live?

Ridgecrest, CA has a population of 28,118, a median household income of $85,872, and an unemployment rate of 9.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ridgecrest?

Ridgecrest averages 60.1°F in January and 104.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 4.7 inches with about 0.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ridgecrest?

Ridgecrest, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 93555.

What is the population of Ridgecrest?

The population of Ridgecrest, California is 28,118 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ridgecrest?

Key numbers for living in Ridgecrest: cost of living index 102 (100 = US average), median home $224,600, median household income $85,872, crime index 127 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ridgecrest side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.