2025 Compare Cities Education:
Payson, AZ vs Ridgecrest, CA

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Highlights
- Ridgecrest spends 18.0% more per student than Payson.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 25.8% higher in Ridgecrest than in Payson. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Ridgecrest had 2.5% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Payson
 Payson, AZRidgecrest, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$15,207$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$11,337  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$7,403$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio17.99  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock352994573
 Students per Counselor787  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock3.5%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.5.8%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock90.4%88.9%
 Some College Educ.31.5%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock14.1%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.24.4%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock9.3%9.3%
 Professional Degree1.8%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.3%1.5%
Reviews for Payson    15 Reviews

We have lived in Payson for over 5 years and love it. It has two large grocery stores, a Walmart, Home Depot, a dozen thrift/ treasure shops, more local shops than we  More

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Over 6 years ago

Payson is a wonderful town especially for retired people and people that want a slower pace... Lots of outdoor activities  More

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Over 6 years ago

I've lived in Payson for 25 years, thank god I worked out of town. There is a saying GO TO PAYSON ON VACATION GO HOME ON PROBATION TURN IN THREE YOU GO  More

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Reviews for Ridgecrest    7 Reviews

For context, I grew up in Ridgecrest and moved away after graduating high school. I have since lived in LA and the Bay Area but I visit RC often. RC is in the high  More

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Ridgecrest and Kern County are red state bastions in a land of blue voting counties. If you want a concealed weapons permit, you'll get it. Want to own any firearm  More

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Over 13 years ago

The hardest thing to get used to in Ridgecrest is the weather. It can get quite windy. And hot. 115 hot. But it's a dry heat! It does cool off in the evening, and it  More

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