Fortuna, California Demographics & Population 2026
Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Fortuna, California had a total population of 12,326, the 444th largest city in California, with a median household income of $62,289, which is 37% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 18.2%.
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 37% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
Fortuna Quick Facts
How Fortuna Changed
Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.
| Metric | 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,210 | 12,326 | +1.0% |
| Median household income | $56,850 | $62,289 | No clear change (+9.6%) |
| Median home value¹ | $348,783 | $379,700 | +8.9% |
| Median gross rent | $1,122 | $1,168 | No clear change (+4.1%) |
How Fortuna Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 61.2%
- Black: 2.0%
- Hispanic: 26.8%
- Asian: 2.8%
- Other: 0.7%
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
- < High School: 14.2%
- HS Diploma: 28.9%
- Some College: 25.2%
- Associate's: 6.9%
- Bachelor's: 15.5%
- Graduate+: 9.3%
Fortuna Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Humboldt County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka | 26,010 | $57,662 | 18.1% | $404,500 |
| Arcata | 18,607 | $46,713 | 27.2% | $484,600 |
| McKinleyville | 17,113 | $73,327 | 14.2% | $457,600 |
| Myrtletown | 5,322 | $60,457 | 17.2% | $453,400 |
| Humboldt Hill | 3,551 | $71,667 | 15.0% | $406,500 |
| Cutten | 3,550 | $97,225 | 12.2% | $471,300 |
| Rio Dell | 3,349 | $42,753 | 17.6% | $301,700 |
| Pine Hills | 2,875 | $78,393 | 16.1% | $487,800 |
| Bayview (Humboldt County) | 2,803 | $48,406 | 22.9% | $416,400 |
| Hoopa | 2,233 | $64,643 | 21.5% | $248,500 |
Cities Similar to Fortuna
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Los Angeles | 13,051 | $61,467 | $322,300 | 13.9% | 18.9% |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | 12,121 | $69,327 | $452,900 | 80.6% | 17.5% |
| Marysville | 12,726 | $56,430 | $292,300 | 15.7% | 24.5% |
| Winton | 11,797 | $57,015 | $339,400 | 7.4% | 14.0% |
| Muscoy | 12,025 | $71,458 | $422,600 | 5.8% | 26.7% |
Population Overview
Fortuna is a small city located in California, within Humboldt County. The total population is 12,326. It ranks as the 444th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Fortuna is 37.4 years. This is 1% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Fortuna is $62,289. This is 37% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.2%. This is 51% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 7.0%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $379,700. Housing costs are 48% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 56.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Fortuna is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.2% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (61.2% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (2.0%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (2.8%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
24.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 33% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 85.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Fortuna, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Fortuna, California?
Fortuna, California has a population of 12,326 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Fortuna, CA?
The median household income in Fortuna is $62,289, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Fortuna, CA?
The poverty rate in Fortuna is 18.2%. This means approximately 2,225 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Fortuna, California?
Fortuna's population is 61.2% White, 2.0% Black, 26.8% Hispanic/Latino, and 2.8% Asian.
What is the median home value in Fortuna, CA?
The median home value in Fortuna is $379,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.1x.
How educated is Fortuna, California?
24.8% of adults (25+) in Fortuna hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.