Real Estate Investing in Ridgecrest, California (93555)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Kern County • Population: 33,629 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 93555 (Ridgecrest, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Ridgecrest, CA (93555)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $269,742
Avg Monthly Rent $1,219
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,824
% Renters 37.3%

Market Analysis: 93555 Ridgecrest

This part of Kern County is not an easy win. The 93555 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 93555 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 93555's metrics run below Kern County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A notable renter share of 37% in 93555 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 93555 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $270K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Ridgecrest:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,219/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Bakersfield, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
54 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Bakersfield, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 93555

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
10.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$76,428/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $110,724 $1,670 10.9% +3.1% $110,724
2BR $152,857 $2,080 9.8% +4.2% $76,428
3BR $254,174 $2,780 7.9% +5.0% $84,725
4BR $331,876 $3,380 7.3% +4.1% $82,969
5BR $406,392 +4.3% $81,278

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$282K$252K$222K$192K$162K$132KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,442$1,304$1,167$1,029$891$753Aug 2017Feb 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 93555 Compare?

Metric 93555 Ridgecrest Bakersfield, CA California
Home Value $269,742 $269,742 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 2.2% 2.2% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,219 $1,219 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 93555? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 93555 (Ridgecrest, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Kern County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Aipmbakersfield.com is a premium expired .com domain for sale on GoDaddy. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Mashcole Property Management, Inc. is a full-service property management company serving Los Angeles, Long Beach, Calabasas, Torrance, San Fernando Valley, Orange County, Downey, Anaheim, Riverside Co summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Coming Soon re-synergy.com We're under construction. Please check back for an update soon. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.2%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Bakersfield, CA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
1/2
54 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $269,742
Monthly Rent $1,219
Price-to-Rent 18.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 93555

Population: 33,629

💰 Median Household Income
$81,824
This area
$81,824
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.3%
This area
37.3%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.2%
This area
32.2%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.2 years
This area
36.2 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 72.8%
Other/Mixed 19.4%
Hispanic/Latino 13.4%
Black/African American 4.3%
Asian 3.4%
👶 Under 18
26.0%
This area
26.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 93555

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
21.5:1 Avg Class Size
$15,747 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Richmond Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
377 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
B Good

James Monroe Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
20.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
B Good

Pierce Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
B Good

Faller Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
23.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
B Good

Gateway Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
24.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
B Good

Las Flores Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
550 Students
👨‍🏫
26.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
B Good

Murray Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
686 Students
👨‍🏫
22.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
C+ Average

Mesquite Continuation High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
103 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
C+ Average
👥
224 Students
👨‍🏫
23.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,280 Per Student
C+ Average

Burroughs High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,518 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,594 Per Student
C+ Average

Sierra Vista Education Center

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
💰
$15,594 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 2,645 Off-Campus Students
C
Cerro Coso Community College
5,690 students · 1.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,645 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Ridgecrest, CA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Ridgecrest, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $270K and rents of $1,219/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What do rentals go for in Ridgecrest, CA?

Average rent in Ridgecrest, CA is approximately $1,219/mo per month. Against $270K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is it like being a landlord in Ridgecrest, CA?

CA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Ridgecrest generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How tight is the rental market in Ridgecrest, CA?

Vacancy risk in Ridgecrest, CA is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

What is the renter demographic in Ridgecrest, CA?

Tenant quality in Ridgecrest, CA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,219/mo.

You know 93555 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 93555 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 93555 ranks in Bakersfield, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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