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Ridgecrest, California

city · Kern County

At a glance

28,225
Population
$253,900
Median home value (all homes)
16% below U.S. median
$269,599
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$1,186/mo
Median rent
12% below U.S. median
$89,250
Median household income
14% above U.S. median
16.9 min
Average commute
93.3%
Homes with broadband
79.97%
Locations with fiber available
7.6%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 98 — 2% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing1% above
Goods & services3% above
Utilities8% below
Taxes34% below
Insurance11% below
Commute cost9% below
For business: California is CBII band 4/5 · time to build band 5/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Colleges in town:
Nearest 4-year college70 mi
Nearest community college4 mi
Nearest technical college69 mi
High school graduates92.1%
College graduates30.9%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city Ridgecrest Economic Development
This page outlines the City of Ridgecrest Economic Development Department, which acts as an advocate for local businesses, works to bring and retain companies, and serves as a resource to foster prosperity and growth in the Ridgecrest community.
county Kern County Community Development
Provides consolidated land use planning and community development programs for Kern County residents. Its mission is to foster economic vitality, support resource conservation, and improve the economic, environmental, and social quality of life for residents, including those with lower incomes.
region California Central Valley Economic Development Corporation
Regional marketing group promoting job creation and investment attraction across six Central Valley counties, offering site location assistance, data, incentives information, and real estate resources.
state Governor's Office of Economic Development
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, or GO-Biz, serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth, economic development and business assistance efforts. It offers no-cost consultation to business owners for attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and more.
state Team California
TeamCalifornia is the go-to partner for businesses, site selectors, and communities looking to succeed in California. With our extensive network, we provide direct access to the best sites, accelerate speed-to-market, and give essential resources to streamline decision-making and drive growth.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateNo

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