The typical owner-occupied home in Ridgecrest is worth about $253,900, 65% below the California median of $734,700 and 24% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,448 a year in property taxes, about 0.96% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $89,250 a year, so the median home costs 2.8 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 59% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 65% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Ridgecrest at a glance
| Ridgecrest | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $253,900 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,448 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.96% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $89,250 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 59% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 65% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,747 | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.6% | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,186 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 26.1% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1981 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 7.0% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 28,225 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Ridgecrest
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Ridgecrest home of $253,900 with 20% down costs about $1,675 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,098, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $71,799 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median Ridgecrest household income of $89,250; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $316,000.
The median rent here is $1,186 a month, so owning the median home costs about $489 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $50,780 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $203,120 |
| Principal and interest | $1,366 |
| Property taxes (0.96% a year) | $203 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $106 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,675 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $8,886 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $249,301 |
| Principal and interest | $1,677 |
| Property taxes (0.96% a year) | $203 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $106 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $112 |
| Total per month | $2,098 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Ridgecrest
What is the median home value in Ridgecrest?
About $253,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Ridgecrest?
Homeowners pay a median $2,448 a year, which is about 0.96% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Ridgecrest?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,675 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $71,799 a year.
More about Ridgecrest
- Mortgage Refinance in Ridgecrest
- Debt Relief in Ridgecrest
- Home Equity Loans in Ridgecrest
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data