What are the schools like in Hayfork, CA?

Hayfork is served primarily by Mountain Valley Unified. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.5:1.

What is the median household income in Hayfork?

The median household income in Hayfork, CA is $40,653 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Hayfork, CA?

Hayfork has an average high temperature of 49.6°F in January and 96.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 2.7 inches.

Hayfork, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Hayfork, CA affordable or expensive?

Hayfork's cost of living index is 100, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hayfork is 0% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $283,900 and the median rent is $679 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Hayfork, CA?

Hayfork has a violent crime rate of 691.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1359.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hayfork, CA a Good Place to Live?

Hayfork is a small town of 3,227 in California, with a median household income of $40,653 . Its cost of living index is 100 (US average = 100), which is 0% below the national average.

Strengths: Hayfork's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Hayfork is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hayfork 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: 99.6

Hayfork's overall cost of living index is 99.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hayfork costs roughly 0% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hayfork, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$283,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$679	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	58.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$40,653	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Hayfork's violent crime rate is 691.9 per 100,000 residents — 82% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

691.9 /100k

Property Crime

1359.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Hayfork is served primarily by Mountain Valley Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hayfork, CA	National Avg
School District	Mountain Valley Unified	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	11.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hayfork sees average highs of 49.6°F in January and 96.5°F in July, with 35.8 inches of annual precipitation and 2.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hayfork, CA
Average High — January	49.6°F
Average High — July	96.5°F
Annual Precipitation	35.8"
Annual Snowfall	2.7"

Demographics

Metric	Hayfork, CA	National Avg
Population	3,227	—
Median Age	56.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	36.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	78.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	17.4%	18.9%
Asian	3.9%	6.3%
Under 18	10.3%	22.2%
65 and over	26.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Junction City, CA 11 mi Douglas City, CA 11 mi Post Mountain, CA 12 mi Weaverville, CA 15 mi Lewiston, CA 18 mi

ZIP Codes in Hayfork

Hayfork, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

96041

Hayfork vs Other Cities

Hayfork, CA vs Junction City, CA Hayfork, CA vs Douglas City, CA Hayfork, CA vs Post Mountain, CA Hayfork, CA vs Weaverville, CA Hayfork, CA vs Lewiston, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hayfork, CA affordable or expensive?

Hayfork's cost of living index is 100, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hayfork roughly 0% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $283,900 and median rent is $679/month.

What is the crime rate in Hayfork, CA?

Hayfork's violent crime rate is 691.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1359.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hayfork?

Public schools in Hayfork are operated by Mountain Valley Unified. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.5:1. 11.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hayfork, CA a good place to live?

Hayfork, CA has a population of 3,227, a median household income of $40,653, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Hayfork?

Hayfork averages 49.6°F in January and 96.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.8 inches with about 2.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hayfork?

Hayfork, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 96041.

What is the population of Hayfork?

The population of Hayfork, California is 3,227 with a median age of 56.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hayfork?

Key numbers for living in Hayfork: cost of living index 100 (100 = US average), median home $283,900, median household income $40,653, crime index 135 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hayfork side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.