Tehachapi and California City receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Tehachapi | California City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,946 | 14,414 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,957 | $60,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $25,361 | $26,434 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,163/sq mi | 71/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $355,500 | $278,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,295 | $1,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.5% | 55.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 8.8% | 8.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.1% | -0.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.5% | 12.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.9% | 22.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 8 | 70 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 4.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -80.5% | -35.8% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 98°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 31°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 12.7" | 6.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 42.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.1 | 33.5 | 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
Tehachapi
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, earthquake.
California City
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, heat wave, earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Tehachapi, CA · California City, CA · How this is calculated: methodology