Signals
East Bakersfield
Ridgecrest
Opportunity
26 · Bottom 4%
vs52 · Bottom 42%
Climate
69 · Bottom 44%
vs51 · Bottom 1%
Physical resilience
15 · Bottom 10%
vs15 · Bottom 10%
Housing affordability
41 · Bottom 5%
vs100 · Top 8%
Access
98 · Top 19%
vs70 · Bottom 13%
Economic stability
37 · Bottom 13%
vs55 · Bottom 40%
Measured values
| Metric | East Bakersfield | Ridgecrest | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,062 | 28,225 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $38,644 | $89,250 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $13,646 | $41,606 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 14,056/sq mi | 1,353/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $208,700 | $253,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,090 | $1,186 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 18.2% | 58.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 8.8% | 5.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.1% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.1% | 30.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 42.6% | 12.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 98°F | 105°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 6.4" | 4.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 18.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 26.6 | 33.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
East Bakersfield
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, earthquake.
Ridgecrest
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, heat wave.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
East Bakersfield
48
Your Score
—
Area Score
Ridgecrest
56
Your Score
52
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: East Bakersfield, CA · Ridgecrest, CA · How this is calculated: methodology