Is Smith River, CA a Good Place to Live?
Smith River is a small town of 849 in California, with a median household income of $95,350 and a 6.0% unemployment rate.
Strengths: Smith River stands out for short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Smith River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Smith River city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Cost of living data is based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for the Smith River metro area.
| Metric | Smith River, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $335,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | N/A | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.5% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $95,350 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageSmith River's violent crime rate is 571.7 per 100,000 residents — 50% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Smith River is served primarily by Del Norte County Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Smith River, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Del Norte County Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 8 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.9:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 7.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 100.0% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Smith River sees average highs of 55.7°F in January and 69.4°F in July, with 78.4 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Smith River, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 55.7°F |
| Average High — July | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 78.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Smith River, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 849 | — |
| Median Age | 23.8 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 12.5 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 69.3% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.4% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 36.0% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 15.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Smith River
Smith River, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: