The Town FilesWillits, California
City in Mendocino County · population 4,988 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $371,100
- Household income
- $63,447
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 42.9
Willits is a city of 4,988 people in Mendocino County, California. The median home is worth $371,100, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better for cycling than 80% of California towns, better for retirees than 72% of California towns.
How Willits 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 Willits is worth $371,100, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 5.8 times the median household income of $63,447, which is more affordable than 61% of California towns. Median rent is $1,197 a month. 40.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Willits | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $371,100 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,197 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $63,447 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.8× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 40.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Willits
| People | Willits | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.1% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 14.0 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 93.3% |
Weather in Willits
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 33.3°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 95 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Willits since 1950.
Severe weather in Mendocino County since 1996
Mendocino County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| October 16, 2020 | Fire | DR-4569: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Mendocino County
Mendocino County had 32,084 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,903 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Willits itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Public schools in Willits
9 public schools with 1,892 students, about 18.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willits High | 9-12 | 402 | 13.9 |
| Brookside Elementary | K-2 | 377 | 22.2 |
| Baechtel Grove Middle | 6-8 | 338 | 19.9 |
| Blosser Lane Elementary | 3-5 | 321 | 22.9 |
| Willits Elementary Charter (charter) | K-5 | 152 | 21.7 |
| Willits Charter (charter) | 6-12 | 123 | 15.4 |
| La Vida Charter (charter) | K-12 | 71 | 14.2 |
| Sanhedrin Alternative | 9-12 | 62 | 20.7 |
| Sherwood | K-8 | 46 | 15.3 |
Towns near Willits
- Brooktrails, CA3.6 mi · 3,632 people · home $371,700
- Ukiah, CA19.5 mi · 16,607 people · home $458,400
- Fort Bragg, CA24.3 mi · 6,983 people · home $535,400
Willits questions
Is Willits, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Willits scores better for retirees than 72% of California towns and quieter than 59%. 30.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Willits?
The median owner-occupied home in Willits is valued at $371,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,447, so homes cost about 5.8 times income. Median rent is $1,197 a month.
What is the weather like in Willits?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 33.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Willits get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Willits 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)