City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Ridgecrest, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ridgecrest - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

28,138
Residents
$88,107
Median income
$235,800
Median home
$1,514
Median rent (state)

Ridgecrest - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ridgecrest places in the 69th percentile for household income and the 38th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

69th
percentile, household income
52nd
percentile, home value
60th
percentile, median rent
38th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ridgecrest, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 28,138 residents in Ridgecrest, a small city within California. Ridgecrest households earn a median of $88,107 annually, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.7%. Typical homes in Ridgecrest are valued around $235,800, and the median resident age is 34.8 years. About 31.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 48 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Slowing), down 14% from five years earlier. Ridgecrest reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1750.3 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,514 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 79.3 out of 100 (High).

Population

28,138 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$88,107 /yr

Poverty 7.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Ridgecrest compare to other US cities?

Here's how Ridgecrest stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 69% higher than other cities
Home value 52% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% pricier than other cities
Safety 38% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Ridgecrest ranks #191 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Ridgecrest's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

69thIncome percentile
38thSafety percentile

69th percentile nationally for median household income · 38th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Ridgecrest's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Ridgecrest's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 50 Avg. percentile National median
Ridgecrest's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Ridgecrest's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$235,800 48th percentile more affordable than 48% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ridgecrest $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ridgecrest, CA Ridgecrest, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ridgecrest, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ridgecrest, CA median $88,107/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ridgecrest, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ridgecrest, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
28,138
Median Income
$88,107
Median Home Value
$235,800
Median Age
34.8
Poverty Rate
7.7%
Labor force participation
55.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1750.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
675.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1074.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
10
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
27,800 residents28,000 residents28,200 residents28,400 residents28,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 27,976 residents 28,333 residents ▲ +1.3%
Ridgecrest's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
48
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
40
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 56
2020 73
2021 152
2022 52
2023 38
2024 48

Permit volume decreased 14% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.5%
Carpool
11.6%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
9.6%
Other
1.5%

Based on 12,234 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ridgecrest sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,514/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Walnut
27,857 people
Temescal Valley
28,560 people
East Niles
28,586 people
Twentynine Palms
28,738 people
Belmont
27,505 people
Lemon Grove
27,489 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ridgecrest's 28,138 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Chaska, MN
28,146 people
Allen Park, MI
28,128 people
Maple Valley, WA
28,121 people
Citrus Park, FL
28,163 people
Oakdale, MN
28,109 people
Glen Cove, NY
28,101 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ridgecrest's $88,107 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mount Plymouth, FL
$88,112 median income
St. Lucie, FL
$88,095 median income
Larkspur, CO
$88,125 median income
New Holland, IL
$88,125 median income
Shadeland, IN
$88,125 median income
Helena Flats, MT
$88,125 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ridgecrest, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ridgecrest, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 68.7% 9.7% 11.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 21.1% White 68.7% Black or African American 4.9% Asian 3.6% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 9.7% Two or more races 11.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ridgecrest compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ridgecrest (this city) 28,138 $88,107
Walnut 27,857 $133,762
Temescal Valley 28,560 $119,647
East Niles 28,586 $51,250
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ridgecrest, CA?

What is the population of Ridgecrest, CA? +

28,138 people live in Ridgecrest, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ridgecrest, CA? +

In Ridgecrest, the typical household earns $88,107 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ridgecrest? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ridgecrest; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Ridgecrest, CA safe? +

Ridgecrest has a total crime rate of 1750.3 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Ridgecrest, CA? +

A typical home in Ridgecrest is worth $235,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.