Barstow vs Ridgecrest
Barstow, California versus Ridgecrest, California: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Ridgecrest edges out Barstow on overall objective livability (45 vs 41 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Barstow | Ridgecrest |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $52k | $86k |
| Cost of Living | $66k | $55k |
| Home Value | $174k | $225k |
| Monthly Rent | $978 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $1k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.82% | 0.96% |
| Income Tax | 13.30% | 13.30% |
| Sales Tax | 8.85% | 8.85% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 18.95% | 18.72% |
| Unemployment | 9.1% | 9.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 49°F | 46°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 87°F | 87°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 5.0 in | 4.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3 in | 0.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 323 days | 328 days |
| Summer Humidity | 44°F | 42°F |
| Comfortable Days | 89 days | 63 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 73.3 | 60.5 |
| Air Quality | 48 AQI | 27 AQI |
| School Quality | 53.2 | 53.0 |
| Violent Crime | 2407/100k | 1852/100k |
| Property Crime | 2313/100k | 1393/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 25,235 | 28,118 |
| Median Age | 31.7 | 35.4 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.73 | 0.45 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.91 | 0.94 |
| Political Leaning | D+11 | Even |
| White (%) | 22.6% | 65.1% |
| Black (%) | 14.9% | 3.5% |
| Hispanic (%) | 51.6% | 21.7% |
| Asian (%) | 1.4% | 3.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 9.6% | 5.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 28 min | 16 min |
| Walkability | 11.5/20 | 9.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 95 mi | 124 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 73.8% | 92.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 19.02 | 25.25 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Barstow or Ridgecrest more affordable?
- Ridgecrest has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Barstow's $66k and Ridgecrest's $55k. Median rent is $978 in Barstow versus $1k in Ridgecrest.
- Is Barstow or Ridgecrest safer?
- Ridgecrest has the lower violent crime rate. Barstow reports 2407/100k and Ridgecrest reports 1852/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Barstow or Ridgecrest?
- The median home value is $174k in Barstow and $225k in Ridgecrest, so homes are more affordable in Barstow.