Median Age
36 Years
Largest Age Group
30-39 Years
Approximately 16% of Residents
Under 20
28%
Over 65
15%
Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest, CA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,102
Population
30,762
Renter Mix
39% Rent
Delight in this desert town’s small-town atmosphere
Suburban
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Scenic
•
Mountain Views
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Military-Friendly
•
Affordable
•
Active
•
Welcoming
•
Close-Knit
•
Remote
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Situated in the Indian Wells Valley of the Mojave Desert, Ridgecrest presents a small-town feel to a close-knit military community, bordering the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. Ridgecrest residents come together for a variety of events, including the annual Petroglyph Festival and the Desert Empire Fair.
Ridgecrest is surrounded by four mountain ranges and a host of natural wonders, offering ample opportunities to engage in year-round recreational activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and skiing. Sequoia National Forest and Death Valley National Park are also just minutes from Ridgecrest. The city honors its heritage with the Maturango Museum, which offers rotating exhibits, galleries, events, and tours. Ridgecrest’s prime location near the 395 and 14 highways allows for easy access to the rest of southern California.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$74,604
Average: $96,416
Education
7,408
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
13,253
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Ridgecrest has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
39%
Non-Renters
61%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
21%
Other Education
79%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Ridgecrest, CA is $1,288 for a studio, $1,106 for one bedroom, $1,172 for two bedrooms, and $1,314 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Ridgecrest has increased by 0.8% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,106/month
643 Sq Ft
House
$1,604/month
1,295 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Ridgecrest, CA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
30
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Somewhat Bikeable
Bikeability
30
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
526 Students
Public
Grades K-5
364 Students
Public
Grades K-5
346 Students
Public
Grades K-5
297 Students
Public
Grades K-5
516 Students
Public
Grades K-8
239 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
643 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
490 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,536 Students
Mesquite Continuation High School
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Parks and Recreation
- Maturango Museum
Top Apartments in Ridgecrest
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.