2025 Compare Cities Education:
Ridgecrest, CA vs Petaluma, CA

Change Cities
Highlights
- Petaluma spends 10.8% more per student than Ridgecrest.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 8.0% lower in Petaluma than in Ridgecrest. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Petaluma had 0.1% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Ridgecrest
 Ridgecrest, CAPetaluma, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$16,850$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$12,833  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$8,508$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio22.63  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock142404573
 Students per Counselor764  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock4.6%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.6.1%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock90.5%88.9%
 Some College Educ.22.7%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock9.4%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.32.8%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock9.9%9.3%
 Professional Degree0.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock1.4%1.5%
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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Ridgecrest

Reviews for Petaluma    16 Reviews

I agree with the low star reviews. Been here for 25 years, raised a family and seen everything turn to the left and worse. Weather is glorious, love the old Victorians  More

   |    Reply

We’ve lived here for 3 years and we love it. It has taken some time to grow on us. We moved from SF where we had lived over 15 years, we were not used to one year leases  More

   |    Reply

I’ve lived here a couple of years (after living in others parts of the Bay Area for 15+ years) and I love it! Great neighborhoods, friendly folks, good schools with  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Petaluma


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.