1st Advantage MortgageIn Mendocino County, California, the typical household earns $68,092 a year and the typical rent is $1,317. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Mendocino County
- Household income in Mendocino County
- Renting and owning in Mendocino County
- Work, industries and travel time in Mendocino County
- Counties near Mendocino County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Mendocino County
- What a median Mendocino County budget can carry
- Mendocino County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Mendocino County
- Steps before you apply in Mendocino County
- Checking a lender's license in California
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Mendocino County
With an estimated 90,244 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Mendocino County ranks 38th of 58 in California for population. It covers 3,507 square miles of land, or about 26 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Mendocino County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Ukiah is the biggest of its 23 Census places, at roughly 16,304 people (18% of the county total).
Household income in Mendocino County
Mendocino County households have a median income of $68,092 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 44th of 58 in California.
| Yearly household income | Mendocino County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.2% | +8.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.7% | +7.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.7% | -3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -12.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Mendocino County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.4%, 3 points higher than the state's 12.0%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.481 here. None of these numbers decides a Mendocino County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Mendocino County
A typical Mendocino County rental runs $1,317 a month including utilities, which is 35% below California. 55% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. Home values center on $512,200, or 7.5 years of median income. 62% of Mendocino County households own their home and 38% rent. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Cost | Mendocino County | California figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,317/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $512,200 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 42% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 7% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Work, industries and travel time in Mendocino County
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Mendocino County residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 6% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 9.0% in Mendocino County. About 71% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.3% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Mendocino County workers | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.1% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | -4.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 6.9% | -2.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Mendocino County
Lake County is closest, 44 miles from center to center; the sixth, Trinity County, is 86 miles off. Income ranges from $53,002 in Trinity County to $104,674 in Sonoma County; 2 of these neighbors top Mendocino County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mendocino County | - | $68,092 | $1,317/mo | 62% |
| Lake County, CA | 44 mi | $60,621 | $1,368/mo | 72% |
| Glenn County, CA | 57 mi | $67,139 | $1,120/mo | 61% |
| Colusa County, CA | 67 mi | $75,672 | $1,157/mo | 62% |
| Sonoma County, CA | 69 mi | $104,674 | $2,158/mo | 63% |
| Tehama County, CA | 80 mi | $63,784 | $1,184/mo | 67% |
| Trinity County, CA | 86 mi | $53,002 | $1,073/mo | 72% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Mendocino County
The table lists the 14 largest of 23 Census places in Mendocino County, by population. Together all 23 hold about 44,047 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. Brooktrails has the highest median household income on the list ($116,056) and Covelo the lowest ($34,583), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $928 in Laytonville to $1,917 in Point Arena. Live in one of these Mendocino County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukiah | city | 16,304 | $66,160 | $1,331 | 23 mi |
| Fort Bragg | city | 7,032 | $56,481 | $1,290 | 19 mi |
| Willits | city | 4,920 | $63,447 | $1,197 | 5 mi |
| Brooktrails | CDP | 4,398 | $116,056 | $1,482 | 3 mi |
| Redwood Valley | CDP | 1,898 | $63,563 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Covelo | CDP | 1,286 | $34,583 | $1,281 | 27 mi |
| Talmage | CDP | 1,128 | $44,647 | $1,306 | 26 mi |
| Hopland | CDP | 983 | $91,786 | $1,696 | 36 mi |
| Point Arena | city | 789 | $108,095 | $1,917 | 38 mi |
| Anchor Bay | CDP | 771 | $88,194 | n/a | 43 mi |
| Laytonville | CDP | 720 | $37,656 | $928 | 16 mi |
| Boonville | CDP | 667 | $42,188 | n/a | 29 mi |
| Cleone | CDP | 613 | $53,679 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Mendocino | CDP | 574 | $80,833 | n/a | 20 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
What a median Mendocino County budget can carry
How much room does a median Mendocino County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Mendocino County: $5,674
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,317)
- $726: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,123 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Mendocino County residents: age, schooling, coverage
25% of Mendocino County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.7%, against 6.6% for California.
| Measure | Mendocino County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.2% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.7% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.0% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 8.2% |
Borrowing situations common in Mendocino County
Where the Mendocino County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 55% of Mendocino County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Mendocino County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Steps before you apply in Mendocino County
A short checklist for Mendocino County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Mendocino County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the California license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in California
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Mendocino County, check the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the California guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mendocino County a high-income county?
Its $68,092 median ranks 44th of 58 California counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Mendocino County rent compare with California?
$1,317 locally versus $2,036 for the state, 35% below.
I live in a small Mendocino County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Willits, Brooktrails, Redwood Valley and 18 more.
Is the fit check different in Mendocino County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Mendocino County check a lender's license?
With the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.