What are the schools like in McKinleyville, CA?

McKinleyville is served primarily by Northern Humboldt Union High. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.9:1.

What is the median household income in McKinleyville?

The median household income in McKinleyville, CA is $68,239 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.8%.

What is the weather like in McKinleyville, CA?

McKinleyville has an average high temperature of 56.4°F in January and 63.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 54.2 inches.

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

Q: Is McKinleyville, CA affordable or expensive?

McKinleyville's cost of living index is 106, where 100 represents the national average. This means McKinleyville is 6% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $389,200 and the median rent is $1,327 per month.

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

McKinleyville has a violent crime rate of 477.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1551.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is McKinleyville, CA a Good Place to Live?

McKinleyville is a small city of 16,913 in California, with a median household income of $68,239 and a 8.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 106 (US average = 100), which is 6% above the national average.

Strengths: McKinleyville stands out for solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether McKinleyville is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All McKinleyville 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: 106.5

McKinleyville's overall cost of living index is 106.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in McKinleyville costs roughly 6% more than the average American city.

Metric	McKinleyville, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$389,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,327	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,239	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

McKinleyville's violent crime rate is 477.3 per 100,000 residents — 26% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

477.3 /100k

Property Crime

1551.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

McKinleyville is served primarily by Northern Humboldt Union High. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	McKinleyville, CA	National Avg
School District	Northern Humboldt Union High	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

McKinleyville sees average highs of 56.4°F in January and 63.4°F in July, with 54.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	McKinleyville, CA
Average High — January	56.4°F
Average High — July	63.4°F
Annual Precipitation	54.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	McKinleyville, CA	National Avg
Population	16,913	—
Median Age	38.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.1%	18.9%
Asian	4.9%	6.3%
Under 18	22.2%	22.2%
65 and over	16.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Fieldbrook, CA 3 mi Westhaven-Moonstone, CA 6 mi Arcata, CA 6 mi Blue Lake, CA 7 mi Trinidad, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in McKinleyville

McKinleyville, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95519

McKinleyville vs Other Cities

McKinleyville, CA vs Fieldbrook, CA McKinleyville, CA vs Westhaven-Moonstone, CA McKinleyville, CA vs Arcata, CA McKinleyville, CA vs Blue Lake, CA McKinleyville, CA vs Trinidad, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is McKinleyville, CA affordable or expensive?

McKinleyville's cost of living index is 106, where 100 is the national average. That puts McKinleyville roughly 6% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $389,200 and median rent is $1,327/month.

What is the crime rate in McKinleyville, CA?

McKinleyville's violent crime rate is 477.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1551.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in McKinleyville?

Public schools in McKinleyville are operated by Northern Humboldt Union High. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. 35.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is McKinleyville, CA a good place to live?

McKinleyville, CA has a population of 16,913, a median household income of $68,239, and an unemployment rate of 8.8%. 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 McKinleyville?

McKinleyville averages 56.4°F in January and 63.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 54.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in McKinleyville?

McKinleyville, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95519.

What is the population of McKinleyville?

The population of McKinleyville, California is 16,913 with a median age of 38.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in McKinleyville?

Key numbers for living in McKinleyville: cost of living index 106 (100 = US average), median home $389,200, median household income $68,239, crime index 105 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare McKinleyville side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.