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Ridgecrest, CA
City in Kern County, California. ZIP codes: 93555.
Population
28,225
Land area
20.9sq mi
People per sq mi
1,353
ZIP codes
1
Ridgecrest and its ZIP codes
Ridgecrest at a glance
- Ridgecrest is about 5.4 times as dense as California as a whole.
- It is the 279th most populous of 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- Households here earn a median of $89,250 a year, 10% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $253,900 (65% below California) and median rent is $1,186 a month.
Local data for Ridgecrest, CA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals1
- Emergency Rooms1
- Nursing Homes1
- Schools16
- Colleges1
- Libraries1
- Banks1
- Post Offices1
- Parks14
- Grocery Stores11
- Restaurants69
- Affordable Housing3
- Hospice Care1
- Dialysis Centers1
- Community Health Centers1
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment2
- Private Schools5
- Community Colleges & Trade Schools1
- Toxic Release Facilities1
Housing and community stats
Ridgecrest, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$89,250
Poverty rate
12.5%
Median home value
$253,900
Median rent
$1,186/mo
Homeownership
58.8%
Bachelor's or higher
30.9%
Median age
33.4
Average commute
16.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (5,195), Irish Americans (3,896), German Americans (3,854).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Kern County. PPP loans are for Ridgecrest.
Unemployment rate
7.9%
Sep 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$61,737
347,044 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$50,641
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$4.8B
FY 2026, $5,245 per person
PPP loans
$21.4M
461 loans, 3,552 jobs reported
How people get to work
Ridgecrest, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone73.3%
- Carpooled12.1%
- Public transit0.4%
- Walked1.4%
- Bicycle0.8%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.1%
- Worked from home11.0%
Average one-way commute: 16.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ridgecrest, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
2,501
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
2,955
1.1% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
105° / 31°F
4.7 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ridgecrest, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.0%
U.S. 33.3% -1.3 pts
Diabetes
10.3%
U.S. 12.1% -1.8 pts
Smoking
12.8%
U.S. 12.8% about the same
Uninsured (18-64)
8.3%
U.S. 11.1% -2.8 pts
ZIP codes in Ridgecrest
1 in or overlapping Ridgecrest. Population shown
Cities near Ridgecrest
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgecrest HeightsCensus-designated place | 2.6 mi | 0.6 |
| China Lake AcresCensus-designated place | 5.9 mi | 5.2 |
| InyokernCensus-designated place | 8.8 mi | 10.9 |
| JohannesburgCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 2.5 |
| RandsburgCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 1.9 |
| PearsonvilleCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 4.1 |
| Searles ValleyCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 10.5 |
| TronaCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 9.3 |
| Homewood CanyonCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 10.2 |
| Valley WellsCensus-designated place | 26 mi | 10.7 |
| OnyxCensus-designated place | 29 mi | 11.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ridgecrest, CA in?
- Ridgecrest is in Kern County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in Ridgecrest, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Ridgecrest include 93555.
- What is the population of Ridgecrest, CA?
- About 28,225 people live in Ridgecrest, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ridgecrest?
- Nearby places include Ridgecrest Heights (2.6 mi), China Lake Acres (5.9 mi), Inyokern (8.8 mi), Johannesburg (17 mi), Randsburg (17 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023