Median Income
$82,250
household / year
Median Home Value
$658,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$2,068
gross / month
Cost of Living
113
national avg = 100

Is Trinidad, CA a Good Place to Live?

Trinidad is a small town of 449 in California, with a median household income of $82,250 and a 10.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Trinidad stands out for solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Trinidad is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Trinidad 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: 112.7

Trinidad's overall cost of living index is 112.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Trinidad costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric Trinidad, CA National Avg
Median Home Value $658,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $2,068 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 84.7% 65.9%
Median Household Income $82,250 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Trinidad'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

Trinidad is served primarily by Big Lagoon Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Trinidad, CA National Avg
School District Big Lagoon Union Elementary —
Elementary Schools 1 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools N/A —
Student/Teacher Ratio 7.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 71.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 99.7% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Trinidad sees average highs of 56.4°F in January and 63.4°F in July, with 52.4 inches of annual precipitation .

MetricTrinidad, CA
Average High — January56.4°F
Average High — July63.4°F
Annual Precipitation52.4"
Annual SnowfallTrace / None

Demographics

MetricTrinidad, CANational Avg
Population449—
Median Age55.938.9
Unemployment Rate10.3%3.7%
Avg Commute Time22.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)82.0%59.3%
Black or African American0.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino10.2%18.9%
Asian0.0%6.3%
Under 1811.4%22.2%
65 and over29.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Westhaven-Moonstone, CA 3 mi Big Lagoon, CA 7 mi McKinleyville, CA 8 mi Fieldbrook, CA 8 mi Arcata, CA 14 mi

Trinidad vs Other Cities

Trinidad, CA vs Westhaven-Moonstone, CA Trinidad, CA vs Big Lagoon, CA Trinidad, CA vs McKinleyville, CA Trinidad, CA vs Fieldbrook, CA Trinidad, CA vs Arcata, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Trinidad's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Trinidad roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $658,500 and median rent is $2,068/month.
Trinidad'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.
Public schools in Trinidad are operated by Big Lagoon Union Elementary. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.5:1. 71.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Trinidad, CA has a population of 449, a median household income of $82,250, and an unemployment rate of 10.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Trinidad averages 56.4°F in January and 63.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 52.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Trinidad, California is 449 with a median age of 55.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Trinidad: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $658,500, median household income $82,250, crime index 105 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Trinidad side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.