Cold desert

Edwards AFB, California

Kern County, California · Population 2.6k · 2,398 ft elevation

Living in Edwards AFB

Edwards AFB has a cold desert climate: scorching summers (July highs around 98°F) and chilly winters (January lows around 34°F).

Precipitation is very dry at about 6″ a year, and it sees only a dusting of snow (1″ a season).

Skies are exceptionally sunny (83% of possible sunshine). It never gets truly muggy.

Air quality is poor: a median AQI of 70, with about 65 unhealthy-air days in the latest year.

There is plenty to explore outdoors around Edwards AFB: about 24% of the land within 30 miles is public (parks, national forest and the like), and the terrain rises and falls about 1,800 ft around town.

Edwards AFB at a glance

Population
2.6k
Elevation
2,398 ft
Average daily high
77°F81th percentile
Average daily low
50°F69th percentile
Annual precipitation
6″1th percentile
Annual snowfall
1″25th percentile
Sunshine hours per year
3,733 hrs96th percentile
Median AQI
7097th percentile
Median rent
$2,314/mo93th percentile
Median household income
$92k68th percentile
Top state income-tax rate
13.3%
Sales tax (state + local)
8.8%
Unemployment rate
10.4%
Homes with broadband
100%99th percentile
Walkability index
4.52th percentile
Average commute
11 min
Math proficiency (8th grade)
32%26th percentile
Reading proficiency (8th grade)
42%
Overall natural-hazard risk
9986th percentile
Outdoor access
8181th percentile
Public land within 10 miles
1%
Public land within 30 miles
24%
Mountain relief within 30 miles
1,804 ft

Climate by month

Average monthly weather in Edwards AFB, California
MonthHighLowPrecipitationSnowSunshine
Jan59°F34°F1.1″0.5″215 hrs
Feb62°F36°F1.5″0.1″212 hrs
Mar68°F41°F0.8″0.2″279 hrs
Apr73°F46°F0.2″—313 hrs
May82°F54°F0.1″—377 hrs
Jun92°F65°F0.0″—414 hrs
Jul98°F70°F0.2″—414 hrs
Aug98°F68°F0.2″—398 hrs
Sep91°F62°F0.1″—349 hrs
Oct80°F51°F0.4″—305 hrs
Nov67°F40°F0.3″—246 hrs
Dec58°F33°F0.8″0.4″211 hrs

Near Edwards AFB

Largest places in California

Sources: NOAA climate normals, NASA POWER, EPA air quality, U.S. Census Bureau, FEMA, FBI, EPA walkability and EDFacts. Methodology