What it's like to live in Eureka
Eureka is a small city in California with rent below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Eureka deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Clean air
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
How Eureka compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Eureka
Based on Eureka's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,390
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $47,800 a year
- 60% of Eureka renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$80,900
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,450
- Homes cost 7.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 15% below US
$1,195/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,195 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $404,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $404,500 · 60% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 14% above US
4.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.9%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 154% above US
835 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2282/100k · Eureka Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 39% below US
16 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 15.8 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 63°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 41°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 4.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 19% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Redwood National and State Parks (40 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Eureka's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,195/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Eureka
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