Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety

B−FortunaSafer than 47% of U.S. towns CFowlerSafer than 26% of U.S. towns

Schools

C−FortunaBetter than 24% of districts in the state BFowlerBetter than 55% of districts in the state

Health

C+FortunaHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns C−FowlerHealthier than 20% of U.S. towns

10Fortuna

11Fowler

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 844 towns #17#582 Lowest depressionHealth · 844 towns #802#288 Fastest growingGrowth · 816 towns #393#65 Most activeHealth · 844 towns #456#728 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 844 towns #397#667 SafestSafety · 411 towns #108#232 Most conserved landOutdoors · 777 towns #486#719 Most new homesHousing · 438 towns #132#8

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Fortuna’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $310 more a month in Fowler

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Fortuna$2,460/mo

Typical home $418K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.77% · or rent about $1,168/mo · Housing →

Fowler$2,770/mo

Typical home $471K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.77% · or rent about $1,218/mo · Housing →

The difference: $310 a month, about $3,700 a year, between Fowler and Fortuna.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

FortunaFowler

Snow a year1″0″

January low38°F 41°F

July high73°F 98°F

Growing season (days)264d 337d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)95th 44th

Outdoors & history

FortunaFowler

Trails2 mi 1 mi

Conserved land2.9%0.5%

Settled1906 1908

National Register places1 —

Archive photos8 2

Famous people born here6 —

Community

FortunaFowler

Library hours a week35 hrs 39 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined1 1

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

365 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

FortunaCA FowlerCA

Fortuna ↔ Fowler365 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs California average

FortunaFowler

People

Population 12,326Highest 7,094Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.9%Lowest CA: +6.1% +20.3%Highest CA: +6.1%

Median age 37.4±4.3Highest about the CA average 33.5±5.1Lowest 12% below CA

Fortuna and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 20.7%±3.1Lowest CA: 22% 30.7%±4.9Highest CA: 22%

Age 65+ 17.3%±2.3Highest CA: 15.7% 11%±2.8Lowest CA: 15.7%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.8%Lowest CA: 37.1% 25.5%Highest CA: 37.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.2%±1.9Lowest CA: 7.6% 12.6%±3.3Highest CA: 7.6%

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $62,289±$5kLowest 37% below CA $66,983±$21kHighest 32% below CA

Fowler and Fortuna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $379,700±$22kLowest 48% below CA $379,800±$26kHighest 48% below CA

Fowler and Fortuna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,168±$118Lowest 43% below CA $1,218±$124Highest 40% below CA

Fowler and Fortuna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,939Highest 43% below CA $2,919Lowest 43% below CA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 51.3%±10.7Highest CA: 55.3% 45.7%±15.2Lowest CA: 55.3%

Fortuna and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 18.2%Lowest CA: 12% 19.3%Highest CA: 12%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 56.1%Lowest CA: 55.9% 62.7%Highest CA: 55.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than CA 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than CA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 25 minHighest 14% below CA 22 minLowest 24% below CA

Work from home 11.1%±4.2Highest CA: 17.2% 5.5%±3.4Lowest CA: 17.2%

Fortuna and Fowler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 23.8%Highest 8.3%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miHighest 12.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.65Lowest 1.01Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Eureka (26%)Fresno (35%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FowlerFew work in Fortuna

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.9%Highest 0.5%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 2.4 miHighest 0.6 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2 2

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.1Lowest 107Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #376 of 574 in CA #247 of 574 in CA

School district Fortuna Elementary · Fortuna Union HighFowler Unified

High school in town Fortuna Union HighFowler High

Students per teacherat that high school 20.6Highest 20.1Lowest

California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Fortuna neighborsTown Square →

T Weaver · 6d

Ordinary Days in Fortuna

1 neighbor in Fortuna can answer.

Fowler neighborsTown Square →

T Weaver · 5d

Perfect Day in Fowler

1 neighbor in Fowler can answer.

Add a town

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

Fortuna vs Fowler

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Fowler places higher on 11 of 21 CA lists

A typical home costs $310 more a month in Fowler

What daily life feels like in each

365 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Ordinary Days in Fortuna

Perfect Day in Fowler

Set another town beside Fortuna and Fowler

Towns like Fortuna

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