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Living in
McKinleyville.
McKinleyville is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in McKinleyville
This is an unincorporated area sandwiched between Eureka and Arcata, serving as a regional hub (it's home to the county's main airport), but don't expect the kind of economic dynamism you'd find in larger metros; you'll likely commute to nearby Arcata for work or settle into the existing service and hospitality jobs that define the local economy. The weather is genuinely mild year-round—cool summers and gentle winters with average temperatures around 55°F—but you're trading that for constant coastal fog and steady rain, which residents either embrace or struggle with depending on their temperament. Outdoor life here is real but more accessible than dramatic: the Hammond Trail offers over five miles of hiking and biking that connect you to regional parks, and Redwood National and State Parks are a 30-minute drive away, though major recreation access requires driving since public transit is limited to Humboldt Transit Authority bus service.
McKinleyville at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.2%
Foreign-Born
3.9%
Broadband Internet
93.2%
of households
Population Growth
-0.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in McKinleyville: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In McKinleyville, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (12.7%), and 4.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.9%
of households
Married Couples
44.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.56
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 21% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in McKinleyville
In McKinleyville, rent runs 21% below the CA average, and home values are 38% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$2,812
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1991
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $474,072 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in McKinleyville
Unemployment in Humboldt County, which includes McKinleyville, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
McKinleyville: Humboldt County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Humboldt County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What McKinleyville Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21 min avg
How McKinleyville residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In McKinleyville, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 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 25% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, which covers McKinleyville, runs 25% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
246
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
766.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
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 McKinleyville, 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.
230 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 McKinleyville, 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, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
McKinleyville has cool summers (avg high 63°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
63°/50°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
49.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
0
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
19
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
151
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 41°F | 7.52" |
| Feb | 57°F | 41°F | 6.48" |
| Mar | 57°F | 41°F | 6.28" |
| Apr | 58°F | 43°F | 4.11" |
| May | 60°F | 46°F | 2.10" |
| Jun | 63°F | 49°F | 0.96" |
| Jul | 63°F | 51°F | 0.19" |
| Aug | 65°F | 51°F | 0.26" |
| Sep | 65°F | 49°F | 0.85" |
| Oct | 64°F | 45°F | 2.71" |
| Nov | 59°F | 42°F | 5.71" |
| Dec | 56°F | 40°F | 8.95" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in McKinleyville
Uninsured
4.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside McKinleyville's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mad River Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Arcata
Providence St Joseph Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.4 mi away · Eureka
Sempervirens
Psychiatric · ER available · 11.9 mi away · Eureka
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.
Education19.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in McKinleyville
McKinleyville's student/teacher ratio is 19.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 38.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
38.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near McKinleyville (within 15 miles)
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
4.9 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, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for McKinleyville
McKinleyville has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Redwood National and State Parks (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Redwood National and State Parks
National and State Parks
30 mi awayWhiskeytown National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
82 mi awayOregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
National Monument & Preserve
88 mi awayPublic Libraries in McKinleyville
Mckinleyville Library
1606 Pickett Rd., Mckinleyville
Cities Near McKinleyville
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to McKinleyville?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
McKinleyville FAQ
Is McKinleyville, California affordable?⌄
McKinleyville's median rent is $1,607/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,327/year. Median home value is $457,600.
Is McKinleyville, California safe?⌄
McKinleyville is policed by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 246 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 766 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in McKinleyville, California?⌄
Humboldt County, which includes McKinleyville, has an unemployment rate of 5.3%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in McKinleyville, California?⌄
The cost of living in McKinleyville is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,607/month and median household income is $73,327/year. The median home value is $457,600. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in McKinleyville, California?⌄
The average commute in McKinleyville is 21 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