What it's like to live in Ukiah
Ukiah is a small city in California with commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Ukiah deals with home prices well above the national average, county unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, and crime rates above the national average.
The good
- Short commutes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment in the county
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- High student-teacher ratio
How Ukiah compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Ukiah
Based on Ukiah's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,662
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $53,240 a year
- 55% of Ukiah renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$91,680
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,840
- Homes cost 6.9× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,331/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,331 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $458,400. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $458,400 · 55% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.9% county unemployment
Unemployment in Mendocino County is 5.9%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Mendocino County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 47% above US
483 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1248/100k · Ukiah Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 88°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 37°F.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 38% below US
22% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 22%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Point Reyes National Seashore (77 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Ukiah's strongest point is commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and county unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,331/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Ukiah
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