Everything You Should Know Before Moving to Ridgecrest, CA — Cost of Living, Crime, Education, and More!
Ridgecrest City was officially incorporated in 1963 and is an ideal place to live for those who love the great outdoors. Being surrounded by four mountain ranges with the closest urban center being the Lancaster/Palmdale area 82 miles away, Ridgecrest has a nice small-town feel.
Ridgecrest California has a lot to offer with plenty to do and a low cost of living. With that being said, here are some of the top Ridgecrest statistics that you should know about:
1. Cost of Living
Ridgecrest has a slightly lower cost of living than the US average and a 33.4% lower cost of living than the California average. The typical home costs $245,600, which is significantly less than the California average of $733,500.
While you can expect food, health, and housing costs to be lower than the US average, utilities do cost more, which is in part due to Ridgecrest’s remote location and mountainous terrain.
2. Population & Employment
Today, Ridgecrest is home to a little over 28,000 individuals with an unemployment rate of 4.1 which is lower than the US average of 6.
The Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) and Ridgecrest Regional Hospital are both major employers in the region. 27.8% of the Ridgecrest workforce works in public administration with health care and social assistance being the next highest at 10.2%.
3. Income & Economic Outlook
The median household income in Ridgecrest is $77,534 which is higher than the national average of $69,021. However, the average income lies at $27,954 a year which is slightly lower than the US average of $28,555.
It should be noted that California does have higher taxes than the national average with a sales tax of 8.3% (US average of 6.2%) and an income tax of 8% (US average of 4.6%).
The future job growth is estimated at 26% compared to the US average of 33.5%.
4. Education & Crime
32.8% of the Ridgecrest population is college-educated with a community college, Cerro Coso, right in our backyard and plenty of education opportunities through large employers such as NAWS China Lake and Ridgecrest Regional Hospital. The school district quality rating is 51.7% better than all of CA school districts and 38.7% better than all of US school districts.
As for crime in the area, Ridgecrest is 21% safer than US neighborhoods in general. Violent crime is above the national median of 4 (per 1,000 residents) and the California median of 4.99 with Ridgecrest sitting at 5.79.
However, property crime is lower than the national median of 20 (per 1,000 residents) and the California median of 23.43 with Ridgecrest at 14.78.
5. Climate
Located in the Mojave Desert, Ridgecrest does not see much rain with only 5 inches per year which is significantly lower than the US average of 38 inches per year. The area can get fairly hot during the summer months with a high of 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
Snow is a rare sighting in Ridgecrest, but if you're a snow lover, it frequently snows in the surrounding areas. A 1-2 hour drive can put you right into a winter wonderland during the winter months.
6. Demographic Overview
Ridgecrest contrasts with national demographics, featuring a slightly lower White population at 72.6% but a notably higher Hispanic or Latino presence of 21.7%, above the U.S. average of 18.5%. While the city has smaller Black, Asian, and Native American communities than national averages, its mixed-race population at 9.6% far exceeds the U.S. norm of 2.8%, showcasing its diverse community spirit.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Ridgecrest CA is ideal for those who like the great outdoors, and want a nice “small town” to settle into. With the low cost of living and housing prices, Ridgecrest is a California haven from typically high housing costs. Plus, with good educational options, Ridgecrest is great for young families.
