Ridgecrest, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Ridgecrest, California had a total population of 28,225, the 279th largest city in California, with a median household income of $89,250, which is 10% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 12.5%.
Ridgecrest Quick Facts
How Ridgecrest Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,755 | 28,225 | -1.8% |
| Median household income | $85,629 | $89,250 | No clear change (+4.2%) |
| Median home value¹ | $221,897 | $253,900 | +14.4% |
| Median gross rent | $1,082 | $1,186 | No clear change (+9.6%) |
How Ridgecrest Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 60.9%
- Black: 3.9%
- Hispanic: 23.6%
- Asian: 4.2%
- Other: 0.6%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 7.9%
- HS Diploma: 20.5%
- Some College: 27.1%
- Associate's: 13.7%
- Bachelor's: 21.7%
- Graduate+: 9.2%
Ridgecrest Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Kern County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | 411,986 | $80,540 | 16.3% | $371,700 |
| Delano | 51,679 | $67,010 | 16.0% | $301,900 |
| Oildale | 34,687 | $51,298 | 25.2% | $238,800 |
| East Niles | 28,532 | $55,124 | 28.7% | $251,500 |
| Wasco | 26,558 | $51,727 | 18.4% | $273,600 |
| Rosamond | 21,473 | $79,386 | 17.1% | $352,600 |
| Shafter | 21,193 | $71,215 | 20.7% | $335,800 |
| Arvin | 19,539 | $49,183 | 34.6% | $262,700 |
| Rosedale | 18,877 | $135,966 | 6.4% | $608,900 |
| California City | 14,414 | $60,113 | 22.8% | $278,000 |
Cities Similar to Ridgecrest
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Grove | 27,686 | $88,009 | $705,400 | 20.2% | 9.2% |
| Atascadero | 29,712 | $91,429 | $716,500 | 31.6% | 11.4% |
| Suisun City | 29,286 | $94,787 | $579,500 | 21.1% | 8.4% |
| Lemoore | 27,102 | $83,724 | $328,300 | 19.5% | 15.1% |
| Lawndale | 30,781 | $85,441 | $781,900 | 20.6% | 13.0% |
Population Overview
Ridgecrest is a mid-sized community located in California, within Kern County. The total population is 28,225. It ranks as the 279th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Ridgecrest is 33.4 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Ridgecrest is $89,250. This is 10% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 11% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 12.5%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.6%. This is 16% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $253,900. Housing costs are 65% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.8x, Ridgecrest is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 58.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Ridgecrest is White (non-Hispanic), making up 60.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 23.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (60.9% vs 33.8%). The Asian population (4.2%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
30.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% 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 92.1%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Ridgecrest, 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Ridgecrest, California?
Ridgecrest, California has a population of 28,225 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Ridgecrest, CA?
The median household income in Ridgecrest is $89,250, which is 11% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Ridgecrest, CA?
The poverty rate in Ridgecrest is 12.5%. This means approximately 3,503 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Ridgecrest, California?
Ridgecrest's population is 60.9% White, 3.9% Black, 23.6% Hispanic/Latino, and 4.2% Asian.
What is the median home value in Ridgecrest, CA?
The median home value in Ridgecrest is $253,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.8x.
How educated is Ridgecrest, California?
30.9% of adults (25+) in Ridgecrest hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.