Ridgecrest Heights, California Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 370, Ridgecrest Heights's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Ridgecrest Heights is a small community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 370. It ranks as the 1278th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ridgecrest Heights is 50.4 years. This is 33% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. 10.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ridgecrest Heights is $77,130. This is 22% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 4% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 14.4%. This is 119% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $164,300. Housing costs are 78% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Ridgecrest Heights is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 79% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ridgecrest Heights has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.2% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 10.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.2% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (10.8% vs 5.2%).

Education

12.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 66% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ridgecrest Heights, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.