Is Hercules, CA a Good Place to Live?
Hercules is a small city of 26,041 in California, with a median household income of $125,880 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.
Strengths: Hercules stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether Hercules is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hercules 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: 118.2Hercules's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hercules costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Hercules, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $690,000 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,759 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.0% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $125,880 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeHercules's violent crime rate is 168.3 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hercules is served primarily by West Contra Costa Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.0:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Hercules, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | West Contra Costa Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 38 | — |
| Middle Schools | 6 | — |
| High Schools | 8 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 22.0:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.3% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 91.9% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Hercules sees average highs of 57.3°F in January and 85.4°F in July, with 24.2 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Hercules, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 57.3°F |
| Average High — July | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Hercules, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 26,041 | — |
| Median Age | 42.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 40.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 22.4% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 19.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 41.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 17.7% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Hercules
Hercules, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: