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City · 12,326 residents · Humboldt County, California

Fortuna , California

In Fortuna, a typical home is worth $379,700 and typical rent is $1,168 a month. Compared with all of Humboldt County, the typical home value is 15% lower and typical rent is 9% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $379,700

    15% below the county

    48% below California

    • Fortuna
    • Humboldt
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,168a month

    9% below the county

    43% below California

    • Fortuna
    • Humboldt
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $62,289a year

    About the same as the county

    37% below California

    • Fortuna
    • Humboldt
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    56%

    About the same as the county

    About the same as California

    • Fortuna
    • Humboldt
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$407,483
3.5% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,577 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Fortuna is in Humboldt County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Humboldt County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Fortuna apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Fortuna fell 3.5%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

  2. The typical home in Fortuna is worth $379,700, 15% less than in Humboldt County as a whole ($446,900).

  3. Fortuna has the 45th lowest typical rent of the 648 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($1,168).

Sources: Zillow (September 2026 data); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Fortuna

What homes there are in Fortuna, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

As in Humboldt County, most homes in Fortuna are detached houses (66%).

Year built

Here half of the homes date from 1978 or later; in Humboldt County, from 1973 or later.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,837 a month

Humboldt County: $2,147 a month

Without a mortgage

$617 a month

Humboldt County: $667 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Humboldt County: 53%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Fortuna is $1,837 a month, less than in Humboldt County ($2,147); without one, $617.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Fortuna gained value more slowly than in Humboldt County: 34% since 2015–2019, against 43%.

Rents in Fortuna rose more slowly than in Humboldt County: 28% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

To compare: typical income in Fortuna rose 35%; the home, +34%; the rent, +28%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureFortunaHumboldt CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.2%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.9%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.452.372.842.53
Drive alone 71%68%66%69%
Carpool 10%11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate6%3%3%
Work from home 11%13%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Fortuna has 2.45 people on average, about the same as in Humboldt County (2.37).

To get to work, 71% of workers in Fortuna drive alone; in Humboldt County, 68%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Fortuna?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Fortuna, worth $379,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 60% of the typical household income in Fortuna, which is $62,289 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $132,661 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Humboldt County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Fortuna. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,290 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,095

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$372,822
Total interest
$536,404
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,412 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,453 a month

  • Tight

    $1,453 to $1,869 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,869 a month

    Your payment · 60%

Compared with the typical household income in Fortuna ($62,289 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,095
Principal & interest$2,526
Property tax$244
Home insurance$158
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$168

You need at least $13,290 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Fortuna and Humboldt County

Fortuna is in Humboldt County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Fortuna's own numbers

Typical home value
$379,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,168
Typical yearly household income
$62,289
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.77%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Humboldt County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,554
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+34%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Humboldt County.

Everything about Humboldt County

Buying

Buying a home in Fortuna

A typical home in Fortuna is worth $379,700: 15% below the county and 48% below California. With the typical household income in Fortuna ($62,289 a year), a typical home costs 6.1 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Fortuna 6.1 years
  • Humboldt 7.3 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Humboldt County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Humboldt County rose 74% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Humboldt County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.2% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +34% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +74% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Fortuna next to Humboldt County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Fortuna $379,700
  • Humboldt $446,900
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Fortuna $1,168
  • Humboldt $1,287
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Fortuna $62,289
  • Humboldt $61,160
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Fortuna next to Humboldt County and California
Measure Fortuna Humboldt County California U.S.
Typical home value $379,700 $446,900 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,168 $1,287 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $62,289 $61,160 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 56% 57% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,939 $2,858 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.77% 0.64% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 51% 60% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Humboldt County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Fortuna

For a typical $379,700 home in Fortuna, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Fortuna's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,095a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,290
    Cash to close
    $24,681
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $168

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,026a month

    Down payment
    $18,985
    Cash to close
    $30,376
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $180

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,460a month

    Down payment
    $75,940
    Cash to close
    $87,331
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,811a month

    Down payment
    $56,955
    Cash to close
    $68,346
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Fortuna and for Humboldt County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Fortuna

0.77%of the home’s value each year

$2,939 a year for the typical owner in Fortuna.

  • Fortuna 0.77%
  • Humboldt 0.64%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Humboldt County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Humboldt County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5%
2,542
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.8%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.8% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Fortuna

Typical rent in Fortuna is $1,168 a month: 9% below the county. In Fortuna, 51% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Humboldt County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,554 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $29.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Humboldt County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,122 $21.58 $44,880
1 bedroom $1,188 $22.85 $47,520
2 bedrooms $1,554 $29.88 $62,160
3 bedrooms $2,152 $41.38 $86,080
4 bedrooms $2,597 $49.94 $103,880

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Fortuna

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Fortuna is in ZIP code 95540.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,410: $144 less than the fair market rent for Humboldt County ($1,554).

  • 95540 $1,410$1,950

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Fortuna when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Fortuna

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Fortuna. These are the largest.

  • Mountain View Village Apartments 2130 Smith Ln, Fortuna 95540 48 homes, 47 low-income · For older adults (707) 725-5923
  • Church Hill Townhomes 2601 School St, Fortuna 95540 35 homes, 34 low-income · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 15 · 3 bd: 13 · 4 bd: 3 · In service since 2013 · For families
  • Newburg Retirement Center 2401 Newburg Ct, Fortuna 95540 30 low-income homes · For older adults (707) 725-5923
  • Yarrow Village 2080 Stockton Ct, Fortuna 95540 25 low-income homes · 1 bd: 21 · 2 bd: 4 · In service since 2016 · For older adults
  • Fortuna Family Apts 2040 Stockton Ct, Fortuna 95540 24 low-income homes · 2 bd: 12 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2007 · For families

See all 33 buildings in Humboldt County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Fortuna

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Humboldt County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Fortuna

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Fortuna or Humboldt County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Fortuna the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Fortuna

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Fortuna, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Balance - Santa Rosa

    3033 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa · 165 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (800) 777-7526

  • The Greater Sacramento Urban League

    3725 Marysville Blvd, Sacramento · 198 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (916) 286-8652

  • Greater Sacramento Urban League-Oak Park

    2331 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento · 200 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Homelessness services
    • and 4 more
    (916) 286-8652

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Fortuna

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Fortuna

HUD’s record names them for Fortuna or Humboldt County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Humboldt Section 8 vouchers (707) 443-4583

One other authority has an office in Humboldt County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Humboldt County

These cities are also in Humboldt County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Humboldt County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Fortuna, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Humboldt County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Fortuna.

All guides
A father, a mother and their daughter smile among the avocado trees by their home in Somis, California.

Questions

Housing questions about Fortuna

Short answers with the numbers for Fortuna and all of Humboldt County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Fortuna?

The typical home value in Fortuna is $379,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Humboldt County it is $446,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Fortuna?

Typical rent in Fortuna is $1,168 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Humboldt County is $1,554.

What is the FHA loan limit in Fortuna?

Fortuna uses the FHA limit for all of Humboldt County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Fortuna?

The typical homeowner in Fortuna pays $2,939 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.77% of the home’s value; in Humboldt County, the rate is 0.64%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Fortuna?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Humboldt County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).