F

Covelo, CA

Source:

Affordability Score: 15/100

Population: 2,516 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Covelo, CA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 2,516 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of F (15/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $46,339, median home value of $437,200, median rent of $983 per month, and 9.7% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,713 per month (studio $1,269, 1BR $1,306, 3BR $2,382, 4BR $2,789). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $14,459 per year, consuming 31% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are income, education, housing, rent, childcare. Unemployment currently reads 20.3% and poverty 27.2% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income F
$46,339
Median household income
Education F
9.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
9.4x
Home value $437,200 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent F
$1,713/mo
2BR fair market rent (44% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$14,459/yr
Center-based infant care (31% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$46,339
▼ 25% vs national
Per Capita Income
$23,747
Unemployment Rate
20.3%
Poverty Rate
27.2%

Housing

Median Home Value
$437,200
▲ 59% vs national
Median Rent
$983/mo
Owner Occupied
54.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,713/mo
▲ 43% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,269
1BR
$1,306
2BR
$1,713
3BR
$2,382
4BR
$2,789

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
9.7%
▼ 20 ppt vs national
High School+
50.1%
Median Age
40.5
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$14,459/yr
31% of income
Toddler (Center)
$10,541/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,729/yr
School-Age (Center)
$4,024/yr

What This Means

Covelo, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (15/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 2,516. Challenges include income and education and housing and rent and childcare. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Covelo ZIP Codes
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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Covelo, CA affordable?
Covelo, CA receives an overall affordability grade of F (15/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $46,339. Median home value is $437,200.
What is the cost of living in Covelo?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $983/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,713/mo. Infant childcare $14,459/yr. Median home value $437,200.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →