ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 93555

Part of Ridgecrest, CA

Pop. 33,845·Kern County·896th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$1,269/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

-$663

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 93555 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 93555 · $1,269

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$900

1 BR

$940

2 BR

$1,171

3 BR

$1,564

4 BR+

$1,902

Research median

$1,171/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 93555 usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in September, about $16 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 93555 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 93555 changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 93555 rose 34.6% while median household income rose 26% ($68,794 to $86,700). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 93555 is 35.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($86,700) is $2,168 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,080); a 3-bedroom is $2,780.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 93555. 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.

Annual cost

$15,228/yr

At $1,269/mo median

Location

CityRidgecrest

StateCA

CountyKern County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.3% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 93555 (Ridgecrest, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 30.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

33,845

Median income

$86,700

Median age

34.9

Renters

37.5%

Age distribution

26.3%

23.8%

24.1%

14.3%

Under 1826.3%

18–3423.8%

35–5424.1%

55–6411.5%

65+14.3%

Gender

51.6%

48.4%

Male51.6%

Female48.4%

Race & ethnicity

66.9%

21.7%

White66.9%

Black4.5%

Hispanic21.7%

Asian4.1%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

21.2%

39.9%

30.2%

No HS diploma8.8%

HS diploma21.2%

Some college39.9%

Bachelor's+30.2%

Housing tenure

62.5%

37.5%

Owner62.5%

Renter37.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 93555 in Ridgecrest, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$981 → $1,269

up 29.4%

Income

$73,166 → $86,700

up 18.5%

Population

33,060 → 33,845

up 2.4%

Renter share

37.9% → 37.5%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

31.5% → 30.2%

-1.3 pts

Median age

37.5 → 34.9

-2.6 yrs

Rent in ZIP 93555 in Ridgecrest, CA has increased 29.4% since 2021, going from about $981 per month to roughly $1,269 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 93555 in Ridgecrest, CA now reports about $86,700, up from $73,166 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.9 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 33,060 to 33,845 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.4% change. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 93555 in Ridgecrest, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 93555

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 93555

About renting in ZIP 93555

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 93555 covers Ridgecrest, CA. The median rent here is $1,269/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $940/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,171/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($86,700/yr), ZIP 93555 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 93555?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,269/mo in ZIP 93555. The local median household income is $86,700/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 93555?

Rent in ZIP 93555 has risen 2.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 93555?

Asking rents in ZIP 93555 are usually lowest in December, about 0.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $16 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 93555?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 93555 rose 34.6% while median household income rose 26%, from $68,794 to $86,700. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 93555 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 93555 is one of the more affordable among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #896 of 898 at $1,269/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 93555 changed +2.3%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.