The Town FilesEureka, California
City in Humboldt County · population 26,512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $404,500
- Household income
- $57,662
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 63°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 39.1
Eureka is a city of 26,512 people in Humboldt County, California. The median home is worth $404,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks hipper than 97% of California towns, more seaside character than 93% of California towns, more walkable than 91% of California towns.
How Eureka ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Eureka is worth $404,500, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 7.0 times the median household income of $57,662, which is more affordable than 41% of California towns. Median rent is $1,195 a month. 47.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eureka | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $404,500 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,195 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $57,662 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.0× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 47.8% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Eureka
| People | Eureka | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.0% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.1% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 93.3% |
Weather in Eureka
July highs average 63.1°F and January lows 40.8°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 8 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Eureka since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on January 25, 2018 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 25, 2018.
Severe weather in Humboldt County since 1996
Humboldt County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Humboldt County
Humboldt County had 51,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,212 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Eureka itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Eureka
24 public schools with 6,181 students, about 20.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Senior High | 9-12 | 1,226 | 23.6 |
| Washington Elementary | K-5 | 469 | 26.1 |
| Alder Grove Charter School 2 (charter) | K-12 | 438 | 18.3 |
| Winship Middle | 6-8 | 409 | 24.1 |
| Catherine L. Zane Middle | 6-8 | 398 | 22.1 |
| Alice Birney Elementary | K-5 | 383 | 27.4 |
| Northern United - Humboldt Charter (charter) | K-12 | 315 | 13.7 |
| Lafayette Elementary | K-5 | 305 | 25.4 |
| Cutten Elementary | 3-6 | 302 | 25.2 |
| Grant Elementary | K-5 | 273 | 24.8 |
| Freshwater Elementary | K-6 | 265 | 22.1 |
| Ridgewood Elementary | K-2 | 259 | 18.5 |
Towns near Eureka
- Myrtletown, CA1.4 mi · 4,882 people · home $453,400
- Cutten, CA2.3 mi · 3,223 people · home $471,300
- Bayview, CA2.6 mi · 2,619 people · home $416,400
- Pine Hills, CA4.5 mi · 3,186 people · home $487,800
- Humboldt Hill, CA5.7 mi · 3,498 people · home $406,500
- Arcata, CA6.1 mi · 18,857 people · home $484,600
- McKinleyville, CA11.4 mi · 16,262 people · home $457,600
- Fortuna, CA14.6 mi · 12,516 people · home $379,700
Eureka questions
Is Eureka, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eureka scores better for retirees than 35% of California towns and quieter than 36%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.1).
How much does a house cost in Eureka?
The median owner-occupied home in Eureka is valued at $404,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,662, so homes cost about 7.0 times income. Median rent is $1,195 a month.
What is the weather like in Eureka?
July highs average 63.1°F and January lows 40.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Eureka get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Eureka since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on January 25, 2018. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)