Is French Gulch, CA a Good Place to Live?
French Gulch is a small town of 283 in California, with a median household income of $41,563 and a 1.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.
Strengths: French Gulch stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether French Gulch is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All French Gulch city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 102.8French Gulch's overall cost of living index is 102.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in French Gulch costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.
| Metric | French Gulch, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $87,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,375 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.5% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $41,563 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageFrench Gulch's violent crime rate is 384.8 per 100,000 residents — 1% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
French Gulch is served primarily by French Gulch-Whiskeytown Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | French Gulch, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | French Gulch-Whiskeytown Elementary | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 11.0:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.8% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 92.3% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
French Gulch sees average highs of 54.7°F in January and 96.2°F in July, with 47.1 inches of annual precipitation and 6.4 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | French Gulch, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 54.7°F |
| Average High — July | 96.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.4" |
Demographics
| Metric | French Gulch, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 283 | — |
| Median Age | 55.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 82.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 30.4% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in French Gulch
French Gulch, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: