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Living in Hanford, CA

Small city in California

Hanford is a small city in California, home to about 59,000 people, with 567,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, most trips are by car. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Hanford a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Sunny: more sunshine and clearer skies than most places
  • Low natural disaster risk: 4 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $364k and rents for $2,040 a month
  • Easy flying: FAT is 31 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Fewer graduates: 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Smaller job market: about 567,000 people live within 31 mi
  • No dog parks within 9 mi

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Hanford ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
59,000
567,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
58°F / 96°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$364k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,040/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
102
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,279
State income tax per resident · 0.79% property tax
Safety
1.2× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
4 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly earthquakes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
1
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
18%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
FAT
31 mi away

Living in Hanford: common questions

What is the cost of living in Hanford?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $364k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,040 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 102, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Hanford?

California collects about $3,279 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.79% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Hanford safe?

Violent crime is somewhat above the national rate (1.2× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Hanford?

Hanford has mild winters: winter days average around 58°F and summer days around 96°F.

Does Hanford get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from earthquakes, flooding and heat waves: 4 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.65 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Hanford?

The nearest major airport is FAT, about 31 mi away.

How Hanford scores

Each bar compares Hanford with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly car Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Strong culture scene Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Mild winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Average cost Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Friendly community AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Average
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Safe
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Excellent
🌤️Mild summers Poor
✈️Airport Good

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Is Hanford right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.