Signals
Fortuna
McKinleyville
Opportunity
36 · Bottom 12%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Climate
70 · Bottom 48%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 20%
vs25 · Bottom 20%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 22%
vs52 · Bottom 11%
Access
0 · Bottom 1%
vs2 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 16%
vs43 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Fortuna | McKinleyville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,326 | 17,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,289 | $73,327 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,685 | $36,859 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,347/sq mi | 820/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $379,700 | $457,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,168 | $1,607 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.1% | 62.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.2% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 38.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.2% | 14.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 63°F | 63°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.4" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 140 mi | 116 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.4 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 19.72 | 19.54 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 71.1% | 52.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Fortuna
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
McKinleyville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fortuna
40
Your Score
43
Area Score
McKinleyville
39
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fortuna, CA · McKinleyville, CA · How this is calculated: methodology