What are the schools like in Mendocino, CA?

Mendocino is served primarily by Mendocino Unified. The district operates 3 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

What is the median household income in Mendocino?

The median household income in Mendocino, CA is $80,795 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Mendocino, CA?

Mendocino has an average high temperature of 51.6°F in January and 65.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Mendocino, CA affordable or expensive?

Mendocino's cost of living index is 110, where 100 represents the national average. This means Mendocino is 10% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $417,200 and the median rent is $2,041 per month.

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

Mendocino has a violent crime rate of 166.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 486.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Mendocino, CA a Good Place to Live?

Mendocino is a small town of 731 in California, with a median household income of $80,795 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 110 (US average = 100), which is 10% above the national average.

Strengths: Mendocino stands out for 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 Mendocino is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Mendocino 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: 110.3

Mendocino's overall cost of living index is 110.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mendocino costs roughly 10% more than the average American city.

Metric	Mendocino, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$417,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,041	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	81.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$80,795	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Mendocino's violent crime rate is 166.0 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

166.0 /100k

Property Crime

486.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Mendocino is served primarily by Mendocino Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Mendocino, CA	National Avg
School District	Mendocino Unified	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	67.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mendocino sees average highs of 51.6°F in January and 65.0°F in July, with 44.7 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Mendocino, CA
Average High — January	51.6°F
Average High — July	65.0°F
Annual Precipitation	44.7"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Mendocino, CA	National Avg
Population	731	—
Median Age	66.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	12.4%	6.3%
Under 18	5.5%	22.2%
65 and over	50.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Little River, CA 3 mi Caspar, CA 4 mi Albion, CA 6 mi Fort Bragg, CA 9 mi Comptche, CA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Mendocino

Mendocino, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95460

Mendocino vs Other Cities

Mendocino, CA vs Little River, CA Mendocino, CA vs Caspar, CA Mendocino, CA vs Albion, CA Mendocino, CA vs Fort Bragg, CA Mendocino, CA vs Comptche, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mendocino, CA affordable or expensive?

Mendocino's cost of living index is 110, where 100 is the national average. That puts Mendocino roughly 10% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $417,200 and median rent is $2,041/month.

What is the crime rate in Mendocino, CA?

Mendocino's violent crime rate is 166.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 486.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Mendocino?

Public schools in Mendocino are operated by Mendocino Unified. The district has 3 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 67.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Mendocino, CA a good place to live?

Mendocino, CA has a population of 731, a median household income of $80,795, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. 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 Mendocino?

Mendocino averages 51.6°F in January and 65.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Mendocino?

Mendocino, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95460.

What is the population of Mendocino?

The population of Mendocino, California is 731 with a median age of 66.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Mendocino?

Key numbers for living in Mendocino: cost of living index 110 (100 = US average), median home $417,200, median household income $80,795, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mendocino side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.