City · California
Ridgecrest, California
Ridgecrest, city, in Kern County, California. Ridgecrest had 28,333 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 27,959 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 28,225 (±62). GEOID 0660704.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
28,333
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 27,959 · ACS 2020-2024: 28,225 ±62
Median household income
$89,250
±$8,191 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$253,900
±$10,248 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,186
±$101 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Ridgecrest and what county is it in?
Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California. It covers 20.9 square miles of land, 1,340 residents per square mile in 2020.
Ridgecrest is in the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Ridgecrest, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 28,333 people lived in Ridgecrest on July 1, 2025, up 1.4% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 27,959 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 28,225 (±62).
| Measure | Ridgecrest | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 28,225 ±62 | 915,075 | −530 |
| Households | 11,303 ±500 | 284,931 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.47 ±0.11 | 3.12 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 12,155 ±494 | 306,999 | no clear change |
Ridgecrest's population since 2000
From 24,927 in 2000 to 28,333 in 2025: up 13.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Ridgecrest as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Ridgecrest?
The median resident of Ridgecrest is 33.4 years old; 27.2% are under 18 and 12.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 60.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 23.6%. 7.7% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Ridgecrest | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 ±1.5 | 32.7 | −2.6 |
| Under 18 years | 27.2% ±2.1 pts | 28.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.4% ±1.9 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Male | 52.6% ±2.2 pts | 50.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 23.6% ±3.2 pts | 56.5% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 60.9% ±3.3 pts | 29.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±1.4 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.2% ±1.2 pts | 5.1% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.3% ±1.5 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 7.7% ±1.6 pts | 20.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.7% ±2.9 pts | 45.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 15.0% ±2.2 pts | 4.9% | – |
| With a disability | 14.1% ±2.1 pts | 12.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.7% ±1.1 pts | 7.8% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.1% ±2.0 pts | 77.0% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 30.9% ±2.8 pts | 18.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.2% ±2.2 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.6% ±2.2 pts | 91.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Ridgecrest earn?
Half of Ridgecrest's 11,303 households earn less than $89,250 a year (±$8,191), against $70,210 in Kern County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $85,628 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Ridgecrest | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $89,250 ±$8,191 | $70,210 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $102,732 ±$6,220 | $93,147 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,606 ±$2,926 | $29,699 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.5% ±2.7 pts | 19.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.6% ±5.3 pts | 25.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 16.0% ±3.3 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.6% ±2.0 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.3% ±2.4 pts | 91.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Ridgecrest?
Owners occupy 58.8% of Ridgecrest's occupied homes and renters 41.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $253,900 by its owner (±$10,248). The median renter pays $1,186 a month including utilities, and 35.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Ridgecrest | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $253,900 ±$10,248 | $338,300 | +$32,006 |
| Median gross rent | $1,186 ±$101 | $1,300 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.4% ±6.9 pts | 48.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,747 ±$90 | $1,968 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 58.8% ±3.3 pts | 60.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 41.2% ±3.3 pts | 39.9% | – |
| Housing units | 12,155 ±494 | 306,999 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.6% ±1.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.7% ±2.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.5% ±3.3 pts | 72.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.7% ±1.9 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.9% ±1.4 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.8% ±2.7 pts | 6.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Ridgecrest building?
Builders took permits for 39 new housing units in Ridgecrest in 2025 (21 in single-family houses), 1.4 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Ridgecrest work and get to work?
73.3% of Ridgecrest's workers drive alone and 11.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.6%.
| Measure | Ridgecrest | Kern County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.0% ±3.1 pts | 58.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.6% ±2.0 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 73.3% ±3.6 pts | 78.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.1% ±2.6 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.4% ±0.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.0% ±2.9 pts | 7.5% | +5.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.9 min ±1.8 | 24.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Ridgecrest?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Ridgecrest, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $49,855 (Tract 54.05) to $116,587 (Tract 54.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 54.02Kern County | 5,256 | $103,621 |
| Tract 54.08Kern County | 4,584 | $81,357 |
| Tract 54.09Kern County | 4,351 | $104,113 |
| Tract 54.07Kern County | 3,816 | $73,233 |
| Tract 54.05Kern County | 2,747 | $49,855 |
| Tract 54.06Kern County | 4,023 | $116,587 |
| Tract 53Kern County | 2,416 | $58,261 |
| Tract 54.10Kern County | 1,671 | $68,424 |
| Tract 55.09Kern County | 4,737 | $100,144 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Ridgecrest) · Census block assignment files
How does Ridgecrest compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Ridgecrest is the 1,417th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 252nd-most populous of 483 in California.
Ridgecrest ranks 573rd of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 252nd | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 126th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 690th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 573rd | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 559th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 964th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 863rd | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 362nd | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 495th | 988 |
| Median age | 876th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 703rd | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 584th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 1,019th | 1,069 |
Ridgecrest's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Ridgecrest with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Ridgecrest?
6 of the 57 figures for Ridgecrest on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Ridgecrest are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Ridgecrest.