The Town FilesFortuna, California
City in Humboldt County · population 12,516 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $379,700
- Household income
- $62,289
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 70°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.4
Fortuna is a city of 12,516 people in Humboldt County, California. The median home is worth $379,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks more seaside character than 91% of California towns, better for cycling than 84% of California towns, hipper than 75% of California towns.
How Fortuna 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 Fortuna is worth $379,700, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 6.1 times the median household income of $62,289, which is more affordable than 56% of California towns. Median rent is $1,168 a month. 56.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fortuna | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $379,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,168 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $62,289 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.1× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 56.1% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Fortuna
| People | Fortuna | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.4 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.8% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.1% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Fortuna
July highs average 70.0°F and January lows 42.6°F. About 47.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Fortuna since 1950.
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 Fortuna itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Fortuna
8 public schools with 2,259 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortuna Union High | 9-12 | 871 | 19.4 |
| Norman G. Ambrosini Elementary | K-4 | 301 | 17.7 |
| Linell K. Walker Elementary | K-4 | 258 | 18.4 |
| Fortuna Middle | 7-8 | 253 | 14.1 |
| Toddy Thomas Middle | 5-8 | 236 | 21.5 |
| Redwood Preparatory Charter (charter) | K-8 | 230 | 23.0 |
| Eel River Community | 7-12 | 63 | 21.0 |
| East High (Continuation) | 10-12 | 47 | 11.8 |
Towns near Fortuna
- Rio Dell, CA6.5 mi · 3,379 people · home $301,700
- Humboldt Hill, CA9.8 mi · 3,498 people · home $406,500
- Pine Hills, CA10.1 mi · 3,186 people · home $487,800
- Cutten, CA12.3 mi · 3,223 people · home $471,300
- Bayview, CA12.5 mi · 2,619 people · home $416,400
- Myrtletown, CA13.9 mi · 4,882 people · home $453,400
- Eureka, CA14.6 mi · 26,512 people · home $404,500
- Arcata, CA19.3 mi · 18,857 people · home $484,600
Fortuna questions
Is Fortuna, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fortuna scores better for retirees than 53% of California towns and quieter than 50%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.4).
How much does a house cost in Fortuna?
The median owner-occupied home in Fortuna is valued at $379,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,289, so homes cost about 6.1 times income. Median rent is $1,168 a month.
What is the weather like in Fortuna?
July highs average 70.0°F and January lows 42.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Fortuna get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Fortuna in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)