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Living in
Eureka.
About
Life in Eureka
Eureka offers a genuinely mild climate—you'll never experience a 90-degree day here, and winter freezes are rare—but that comes with a trade-off: expect about 127 rainy days annually, concentrated October through April, with December typically bringing over 8 inches. Summer temperatures hover around 64 degrees with coastal fog, which keeps things cool while inland areas 20 miles away can hit 100 degrees. The job market centers on fishing, healthcare, government, and tourism tied to the Victorian heritage and nearby redwoods, with an unemployment rate below the national average and a median household income around $60,000.
Eureka at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.1%
Foreign-Born
7.5%
Broadband Internet
91.5%
of households
Population Growth
-4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.5% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Eureka: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Eureka, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.8%), and 7.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.3%
of residents
65 and Older
16.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.9%
of households
Married Couples
32.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.38
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 41% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Eureka
In Eureka, rent runs 41% below the CA average, and home values are 45% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,712
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
47.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1954
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $400,182 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Eureka
Unemployment in Eureka is 0.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Eureka Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.8 min avg
How Eureka residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Eureka, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 85% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 13 mi
California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV)
Regional airport · few flights135k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 154% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Eureka runs 154% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
834.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,282
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Eureka Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
96.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Humboldt County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Humboldt County, which includes Eureka, the most common type is winter weather, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Heavy Rain | $47,500 |
| 2024 | 30 | High Wind | $113,000 |
| 2023 | 30 | Winter Weather | $10.2M |
| 2022 | 20 | Winter Weather | $64,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Winter Weather | $10,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Winter Weather | $750 |
| 2019 | 30 | Winter Weather | $22,500 |
| 2018 | 17 | Winter Weather | $1,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
233 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Humboldt County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Humboldt County, which includes Eureka, is typically good — 285 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
285
per year
Moderate Days
80
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Humboldt County, county-wide
Climate63°F summers, 41°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Eureka has cool summers (avg high 63°F) and mild winters (avg low 41°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
63°/52°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/41°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
40.4"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
0
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
8
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 41°F | 6.67" |
| Feb | 55°F | 41°F | 5.64" |
| Mar | 56°F | 42°F | 5.75" |
| Apr | 57°F | 44°F | 3.64" |
| May | 60°F | 48°F | 1.66" |
| Jun | 62°F | 50°F | 0.70" |
| Jul | 63°F | 52°F | 0.18" |
| Aug | 64°F | 53°F | 0.18" |
| Sep | 64°F | 51°F | 0.68" |
| Oct | 62°F | 47°F | 2.31" |
| Nov | 58°F | 43°F | 4.89" |
| Dec | 55°F | 40°F | 8.10" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Eureka
Eureka has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
5.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Providence St Joseph Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Sempervirens
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Mad River Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.6 mi away · Arcata
Providence Redwood Memorial Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 14.9 mi away · Fortuna
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Eureka
Eureka's student/teacher ratio is 22.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 29.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Eureka (within 15 miles)
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
6.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,612 students · in-state tuition $8,824 · 63% graduate · median earnings $54,882 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Redwood National and State Parks, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Eureka
Eureka has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Redwood National and State Parks (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Redwood National and State Parks
National and State Parks
40 mi awayWhiskeytown National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
82 mi awayOregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
National Monument & Preserve
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Eureka
Eureka Main Library
1313 Third St., Eureka
Humboldt County Law Library
812 4th St., Room G04, Eureka
Cities Near Eureka
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Eureka?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Eureka FAQ
Is Eureka, California affordable?⌄
Eureka's median rent is $1,195/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $57,662/year. Median home value is $404,500.
Is Eureka, California safe?⌄
Eureka's violent crime rate was 835 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2282 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Eureka, California?⌄
Eureka has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Eureka, California?⌄
The cost of living in Eureka is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,195/month and median household income is $57,662/year. The median home value is $404,500. About 60% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Eureka, California?⌄
The average commute in Eureka is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from