Shasta Lake and Fortuna receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Shasta Lake
Fortuna
Opportunity
46 · Bottom 29%
vs36 · Bottom 12%
Growth
37 · Bottom 28%
vs48 · Bottom 46%
Climate
59 · Bottom 13%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Physical resilience
13 · Bottom 9%
vs25 · Bottom 20%
Housing affordability
73 · Bottom 38%
vs61 · Bottom 22%
Access
0 · Bottom 1%
vs0 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
46 · Bottom 26%
vs39 · Bottom 16%
Measured values
| Metric | Shasta Lake | Fortuna | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,311 | 12,326 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,401 | $62,289 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,465 | $34,685 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 946/sq mi | 2,347/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $294,400 | $379,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,298 | $1,168 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.2% | 56.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.3% | 24.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 18.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 6 | 36 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 2.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -14.3% | 100.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 100°F | 63°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 38°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 33.5" | 40.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 120 mi | 140 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 23.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.8 | 37.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 20.46 | 19.72 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 77.4% | 71.1% | 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
Shasta Lake
Elevated or high exposure: wildfire, earthquake, inland flooding.
Fortuna
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.
Shasta Lake
39
Your Score
42
Area Score
Fortuna
40
Your Score
43
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Shasta Lake, CA · Fortuna, CA · How this is calculated: methodology