Rents are 7% below what Ridgecrest's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Ridgecrest's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Ridgecrest usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in September, about $17 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Ridgecrest is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2017.
Rent in Ridgecrest changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Ridgecrest rose 34.6% while median household income rose 28.3% ($69,577 to $89,250). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Ridgecrest is 35.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($89,250) is $2,231 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,810); a 3-bedroom is $2,440.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ridgecrest. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Ridgecrest, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 30.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ridgecrest, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Ridgecrest, CA paid around $985 a month. That figure now sits near $1,274, up 29.3% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $77,534 to $89,250 across the same window, up 15.1% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Ridgecrest, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Ridgecrest on your salary?
At $1,274/mo, how Ridgecrest rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ridgecrest rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ridgecrest. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ridgecrest
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ridgecrest is $1,274/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $887/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,171/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $938/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,579/mo.
At 17% of local median household income ($89,250/yr), Ridgecrest ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Ridgecrest rent compare to other cities in California?
At $1,274/mo, rent takes ~17% of Ridgecrest's median household income ($89,250/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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