Melissa, TX vs Ridgecrest, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Melissa
74.8
#551 nationally
Ridgecrest
76.1
#381 nationally
Melissa leads in crime level (1.0 vs 18.5). Ridgecrest leads in average commute (16 min vs 32.6 min). Melissa leads in median household income ($138,465 vs $85,872).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Melissa, TX | Ridgecrest, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 74.8 (#551) | 76.1 (#381) |
| Population | 23,571 | 28,088 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $430,394 | $269,599 |
| Median Household Income | $138,465 | $85,872 |
| Average Commute | 32.6 min | 16 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 37 |
| Crime Level | 1.0 | 18.5 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 112 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+11.2 | R+21.1 |
Data coverage note: Melissa is missing data for 1 metric that Ridgecrest has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C
74.8 Score
Melissa, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$430,394
Population
23,571
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$138,465
Southwest
View Melissa, TX →
C
76.1 Score
Ridgecrest, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$269,599
Population
28,088
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Pacific
View Ridgecrest, CA →