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Living in
Hanford.
About
Life in Hanford
If you're considering Hanford, know upfront that you're looking at a working-class Central Valley city, not a destination town—though that's actually its appeal for many people. The cost of living is genuinely reasonable for California: median home prices hover around $349,400 and rent averages $1,309 monthly, which is attainable compared to coastal areas. Employment centers on agriculture, government jobs (Kings County offices, three state prisons nearby), healthcare, and services, plus the Navy's Master Jet Base at Lemoore 15 miles away.
Hanford at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
32.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Foreign-Born
14.8%
Broadband Internet
88.7%
of households
Population Growth
+4.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics14.8% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hanford: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hanford, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (69.3%), and 27.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.7%
of residents
65 and Older
13.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
39.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
22.0%
of households
Married Couples
48.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.01
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 36% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Hanford
In Hanford, rent runs 36% below the CA average, and home values are 52% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
101.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,736
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1987
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $381,365 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.8 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Hanford
Unemployment in Hanford is 2.8 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Hanford Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute22.6 min avg
How Hanford residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hanford, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 31 mi
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Small hub1.4M 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.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hanford is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
344.5
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,012.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hanford Police Department
Natural DisastersDense Fog most common — 22 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Kings County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Kings County, which includes Hanford, the most common type is dense fog, with 22 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | Dense Fog | Not estimated |
| 2024 | 61 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2023 | 52 | Dense Fog | $7,000 |
| 2022 | 63 | Dense Fog | Not estimated |
| 2021 | 37 | Dense Fog | None reported |
| 2019 | 5 | Funnel Cloud | $1,000 |
| 2018 | 2 | Flash Flood | None reported |
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.
143 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Kings County, county-wide
Air Quality57 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Kings County, which includes Hanford, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
57
Good Days
126
per year
Moderate Days
228
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Kings County, county-wide
Climate96°F summers, 38°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hanford has hot summers (avg high 96°F) and mild winters (avg low 38°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
76°/50°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
96°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
58°/38°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
10.0"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
108
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
24
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
42
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 37°F | 1.79" |
| Feb | 63°F | 40°F | 1.43" |
| Mar | 69°F | 45°F | 1.52" |
| Apr | 75°F | 49°F | 0.72" |
| May | 84°F | 55°F | 0.31" |
| Jun | 92°F | 61°F | 0.12" |
| Jul | 98°F | 66°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 97°F | 64°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 92°F | 59°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 81°F | 51°F | 0.43" |
| Nov | 67°F | 42°F | 0.66" |
| Dec | 56°F | 36°F | 1.44" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hanford
Hanford has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Adventist Health Hanford
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education21.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hanford
Hanford's student/teacher ratio is 21.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
25
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
18.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
21.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hanford (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 3,373 students · in-state tuition $1,384 · 32% graduate · median earnings $46,575 (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: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, 65 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hanford
Hanford has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (65 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks
National Parks
65 mi awayPinnacles National Park
National Park
86 mi awayManzanar National Historic Site
National Historic Site
88 mi awayDevils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
94 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hanford
Hanford Library
401 N. Douty St., Hanford
Cities Near Hanford
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hanford?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hanford FAQ
Is Hanford, California affordable?⌄
Hanford's median rent is $1,309/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $76,461/year. Median home value is $349,400.
Is Hanford, California safe?⌄
Hanford's violent crime rate was 345 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1012 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hanford, California?⌄
Hanford has an unemployment rate of 8.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hanford, California?⌄
The cost of living in Hanford is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,309/month and median household income is $76,461/year. The median home value is $349,400. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hanford, California?⌄
The average commute in Hanford is 23 minutes, which is about 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