The Antelope Valley sits in the northeastern corner of Los Angeles County, in the western Mojave Desert, about 70 to 80 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It is high desert country, with wide open land, big skies, and a dry climate. The valley is one of the country’s leading centers for aerospace work, and it anchors the southern end of the route Country Real Estate serves, from Bakersfield to Tehachapi and the Antelope Valley.
Economy and jobs
Two anchors shape the region. Edwards Air Force Base, home to the Air Force Test Center, the Air Force Test Pilot School, and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, is the area’s largest employer. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale is the second largest, where contractors such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, and Northrop Grumman build and test aircraft. Solar energy is part of the local economy too, and Lancaster reports the highest solar production per capita in California. Health care, manufacturing, and retail round out the job base.
Lifestyle and housing
People come to the Antelope Valley for space and value. Housing costs less here than across much of the Los Angeles basin, and lots tend to run larger. Many residents work in aerospace, defense, health care, or manufacturing. Others commute toward greater Los Angeles using State Route 14 and the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line, which runs from Lancaster to Union Station. The high desert brings hot, dry summers and cool winters.
The cities and the corridor
Lancaster and Palmdale are the valley’s two main cities, each with established neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, and larger lot properties on the edges. Rosamond sits just north in Kern County and draws buyers who want a smaller, quieter community. State Route 58 links the high desert through Tehachapi Pass to the Central Valley, so buyers often move between the Antelope Valley, Tehachapi, and Bakersfield as work, family, and budget shift.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Antelope Valley?
It is in the northeastern part of Los Angeles County, in the western Mojave Desert, about 70 to 80 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Rosamond sits just north in Kern County.
What drives the local economy?
Aerospace and defense lead, anchored by Edwards Air Force Base and Air Force Plant 42. Solar energy, health care, and manufacturing also play large roles.
Can I commute to Los Angeles from here?
Yes. Many residents drive State Route 14 or ride the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line, which connects Lancaster to downtown Los Angeles.