Fortuna, CA · standard
ZIP Code 95540
Humboldt County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 13,657
- 190/sq mi High-density area
- $63,695
- Median income Near-median income area
- $389,500
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 26.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Fortuna pairs a below-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, mixed-tenure area.
- 36th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 22%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 190
- people per sq mi
- 56%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 95540 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 95540 (Fortuna, CA) rose +1.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 309.7 in 2023 to 315.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 95540 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Fortuna, Humboldt County, California, home to 13,657 residents across 71.9 square miles, a density of 190 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 95540 reports a modest median household income of $63,695 (37% below the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,239. The poverty rate is 17.4%, with unemployment at 7.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $389,500 (50% below the average California ZIP), and median rent is $1,178; owner occupancy is 56.4%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 26.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.1, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Humboldt County, so 95540 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 95540
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Fortuna, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 95540.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
57 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
44 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
35 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
32 establishments
- Construction
Construction
31 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 95540, Fortuna, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
13,657
Population
71.9
Area (sq mi)
190
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 95540?
39.1
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
12.5%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$63,695
Median Household Income
-37% vs state ZIP avg
$35,239
Per Capita Income
17.4%
Poverty Rate
7.8%
Unemployment Rate
23.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 95540 ranks among California ZIPs
Fortuna, CA household income vs. every California ZIP code
Median household income among 1,583 reporting California ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$63,695 18th percentile higher than 18% of 1,583 California ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more California ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
6,059housing units
6,059
Total Housing Units
5,689
Occupied Units
370
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$389,500
Median Home Value
-50% vs state ZIP avg
$1,178
Median Rent
1978
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+1.8%
YoY Change (2024)
315
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+215%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 95540 have increased 1.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +215% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.5% | 232 |
| 2021 | +15.1% | 266 |
| 2022 | +7.2% | 286 |
| 2023 | +8.4% | 310 |
| 2024 | +1.8% | 315 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 323 business establishments in ZIP 95540, employing approximately 2,796 people with a combined annual payroll of $132,624,000.
323
Businesses
2,796
Employees
$132.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 57 | 17.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 44 | 13.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 35 | 10.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 32 | 9.9% |
| Construction | 31 | 9.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 7.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 23 | 7.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17 | 5.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 13 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 3.1% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 2.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 8 | 2.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 5 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 95540 vs 95547 →
ZIP 95540 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 95503
Eureka (95503)
24,152 residents
- 95540
Fortuna (95540)
13,657 residents
- 95562 3,450
Rio Dell (95562)
3,450 residents
- 95536 2,849
Ferndale (95536)
2,849 residents
- 95551 1,739
Loleta (95551)
1,739 residents
- 95547 1,222
Hydesville (95547)
1,222 residents
- 95565 1,071
Scotia (95565)
1,071 residents
- 95537 276
Fields Landing (95537)
276 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 95540 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 95540 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 95547
Hydesville (95547)
$96,827 median income
- 95537
Fields Landing (95537)
$78,686 median income
- 95536
Ferndale (95536)
$73,375 median income
- 95503
Eureka (95503)
$71,855 median income
- 95551
Loleta (95551)
$64,519 median income
- 95540
Fortuna (95540)
$63,695 median income
- 95565
Scotia (95565)
$57,083 median income
- 95562
Rio Dell (95562)
$42,975 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 95540 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 95540, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (13,657 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Humboldt County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 95540 in?
ZIP code 95540 (Fortuna) is located in Humboldt County, California. Humboldt County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/humboldt-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 95540?
ZIP code 95540 in Fortuna, CA has a population of 13,657 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 95540?
The median household income in ZIP 95540 is $63,695, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 95540?
The median home value in ZIP 95540 is $389,500, which is 40% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 95540?
The largest racial group in ZIP 95540 is White at 67.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 23.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 95540?
ZIP code 95540 has 323 business establishments employing approximately 2,796 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 95540?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 95540 are: Retail trade (57), Accommodation and food services (44), Other services (except public administration) (35). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 95540?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 95540 increased by 1.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 215%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 95540?
In ZIP code 95540, 54.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 26.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 95540?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 95540 is 23.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 95540?
In ZIP code 95540, approximately 56.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 43.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 95540?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 95540 is 17.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 95540's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 95540 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Fortuna, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.