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

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

Schools

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

Health

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

11Fowler

10Fortuna

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

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

Left end = #1 in California. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Fowler’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%

Fowler$2,770/mo

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

Fortuna$2,460/mo

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

FowlerFortuna

Snow a year0″1″

January low41°F 38°F

July high98°F 73°F

Growing season (days)337d 264d

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

Outdoors & history

FowlerFortuna

Trails1 mi 2 mi

Conserved land0.5%2.9%

Settled1908 1906

National Register places—1

Archive photos2 8

Famous people born here—6

Community

FowlerFortuna

Library hours a week39 hrs 35 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.

FowlerCA FortunaCA

Fowler ↔ Fortuna365 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

FowlerFortuna

People

Population 7,094Lowest 12,326Highest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $66,983±$21kHighest 32% below CA $62,289±$5kLowest 37% 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 $379,800±$26kHighest 48% below CA $379,700±$22kLowest 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 $1,218±$124Highest 40% below CA $1,168±$118Lowest 43% 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 $2,919Lowest 43% below CA $2,939Highest 43% below CA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 45.7%±15.2Lowest CA: 55.3% 51.3%±10.7Highest 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 19.3%Highest CA: 12% 18.2%Lowest CA: 12%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 5.5%±3.4Lowest CA: 17.2% 11.1%±4.2Highest 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 8.3%Lowest 23.8%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.3 miLowest 13.8 miHighest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FortunaFew work in Fowler

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.5%Lowest 2.9%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miLowest 2.4 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.5 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2 2

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

Schools

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

School district Fowler UnifiedFortuna Elementary · Fortuna Union High

High school in town Fowler HighFortuna Union High

Students per teacherat that high school 20.1Lowest 20.6Highest

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.

Fowler neighborsTown Square →

T Weaver · 5d

Perfect Day in Fowler

1 neighbor in Fowler can answer.

Fortuna neighborsTown Square →

T Weaver · 6d

Ordinary Days in Fortuna

1 neighbor in Fortuna can answer.

Add a town

Set another town beside Fowler and Fortuna

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Fowler

+ Compare

Live Oak9,347 people · $351K homes

+ Compare

Colusa6,505 people · $375K homes

+ Compare

Hughson7,648 people · $511K homes

+ Compare

Grand Terrace13,078 people · $518K homes

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.

Fowler vs Fortuna

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

Perfect Day in Fowler

Ordinary Days in Fortuna

Set another town beside Fowler and Fortuna

Towns like Fowler

Post to Fowler

Check your email