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Hanford, CA

Hanford, CA

Hanford, California · Photo: Julie Jordan Scott from Bakersfield, California, USA, CC BY 2.0
Government town · 30.7% of jobs are government, including public universities (U.S. 12.1%)

Lemoore Station is part of the Hanford area. This page covers the whole metro.

Hanford at a glance

Each grade compares this area with all 813 U.S. metro and small-town areas: A is the top 20%, F the bottom 20%. Cost compares everyday prices with the U.S. average. Varro doesn't grade safety; crime facts are further down.

C
Cost
Everyday prices about 2% above the U.S. average
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index, 2024
F
Housing
Typical home value is about 4.6 times the typical household's yearly income ($324,300 vs $70,995)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
C
Getting around
Average commute 23 minutes; 3% walk, bike or take transit to work
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024
F
Things to do
55 restaurants, museums, theaters, music, game and book shops and historic places in the area (about 36 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023, National Register of Historic Places
F
Outdoors
0 hiking trails, 1 campgrounds and 0 paddling spots nearby
Public land: About 5,000 acres within 25 miles (under 1% of the area)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
OpenStreetMap contributors and federal recreation data; public land: USGS Protected Areas Database
D
Jobs
Unemployment 10.8%; jobs grew 0.7% in the last year
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census ACS 5-year, 2024; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
D
Social life
51 bars, cafes, gyms, breweries and game shops in the area (about 33 per 100,000 people)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Census County Business Patterns 2023
D
Healthcare
0.4 primary care doctors per 1,000 people in the main county; nearest emergency room about 18 miles from the center
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
County Health Rankings 2025; Medicare Care Compare
D
Schools
Public school test pass rates about 3 points below the state average (40 schools)
Locals: Not enough local comments yet
U.S. Department of Education, 2021-22 (compared within the state only)
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What kind of place it is

Cozy

Scored the same way as the quiz, against 813 U.S. metro areas. A feel is listed when Hanford scores 70 or higher out of 100.

Cozy
73 / 100
Quieter pace: 153,000 people in the metro, fewer bars per person than 75% of these areas

Less so: historic, artsy, outdoorsy.

Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives

Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.

Around Hanford

Hanford, California
Lacey Milling Company, Hanford
Spanish Revival House - Stitched Together Pan (Horizontal)
Spanish Revival House - Stitched Together Pan (Horizontal) · Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sunny Morning in Downtown Hanford
Sunny Morning in Downtown Hanford · Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Veterans Memorial & Senior Center, Hanford
Veterans Memorial & Senior Center, Hanford · Photo: David Prasad from Fresno, CA., United States, CC BY-SA 2.0
Kings Art Center
Kings Art Center · Photo: Unknown, Cc-by-sa-3.0
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Around Hanford

Where it is, what's close by, trails, buses and trains, and health care.
Where it is
Hanford
Hanford in California
California in the U.S.
State outlines: U.S. Census Bureau.

What's nearby

Within 5 miles of the center of the Hanford area.

7
grocery stores
12
restaurants
3
coffee shops
22
parks
5
playgrounds
2
libraries
3
movie theaters
2
museums
2
bookstores
4
gyms
2
pharmacies
2
hospitals

Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Stores nearby

Membership warehouses and popular grocery stores, measured from the center of Hanford.
Costco
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 3 miles
Sam's Club
Membership warehouse (yearly fee to shop)
Nearest about 37 miles
Trader Joe's
Nearest about 36 miles
Whole Foods Market
Nearest about 34 miles
Sprouts Farmers Market
Nearest about 19 miles
Target
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 1 mile
Aldi
1 within 15 miles, nearest about 1 mile
Not within 50 miles: BJ's Wholesale Club, Wegmans.
Straight-line miles, so the drive is longer. Store locations from each chain's own store finder, collected by the open-data project All the Places, October 2026.

Biking and trails

Within 5 miles of the center of the Hanford area.

Bike lanes and bike paths
7.8 miles
more than most U.S. towns
Walking and hiking trails
8.5 miles
about typical for a U.S. town

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.

Buses and trains

Bus stops within 1 mile
50
Bus stops within 5 miles
148
Nearest train station
None within 30 miles
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Transit Map (stops from each transit agency's schedule data, Sept. 2026). Straight-line distance from the town center. Counts stops, not how often buses come; check the local transit agency for schedules.

Health care

Nearest hospital with an emergency room: Adventist Health Hanford in Hanford, about 3 miles away in a straight line.

Adventist Health Hanford
Hanford, CA · about 3 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Adventist Health Tulare
Tulare, CA · about 18 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Kaweah Health Medical Center
Visalia, CA · about 20 miles
Hospital · Emergency room
Medicare rating: ★★★★★ 3 of 5
Adventist Health Reedley
Reedley, CA · about 22 miles
Hospital
No Medicare star rating
In the county, compared with California and the U.S.
Primary care doctors
0.4
per 1,000 people · California: 0.8 · U.S.: 0.8
Dentists
0.6
per 1,000 people · California: 0.9 · U.S.: 0.7
Mental health providers
2.5
per 1,000 people · California: 4.7 · U.S.: 3.3
People under 65 without health insurance
7.3%
California: 7.5% · U.S.: 9.5%
Hospitals: Medicare Care Compare (CMS Care Compare, July 2026); distances are straight-line miles from the town center (located with the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder), so drive distance is longer. Doctors, dentists, providers and insurance: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2025 release. In an emergency, call 911.

Costs of moving here

Rent, the move itself, and getting set up.

What rent costs

Of about 18,742 rented homes in the Hanford area, 89% rent for under $2,000 a month and 99% for under $3,000.

Under $1,000: 30%
$1,000 to $1,499: 38%
$1,500 to $1,999: 20%
$2,000 to $2,499: 10%
$2,500 to $2,999: 1%
$3,000 or more: 1%

Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.

What moving costs

Hiring movers

Average cost: $1,946

From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.

Moving in as a renter

The middle rented home in the Hanford area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. Before you get the keys, expect about $2,000 to $2,998 for first month plus a deposit, or up to $3,000 to $4,497 where landlords also ask for last month.

Many landlords want your income to be about 3 times the rent. For $1,000 to $1,499, that's a yearly income of about $36,000 to $53,964.

Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.

Moving to California: before and after

  • Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
  • Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the California DMV.
  • Register to vote at your new address: California voter registration.
  • Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
  • Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
  • Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.

Schools and childcare

Schools

12 public school districts in this county, with about 24,794 students in all. The county also has 12 public charter schools and 3 private schools. Which public school serves a home depends on its address.

Kings Valley Academy IILemoore Online College Preparatory HighLemoore Middle College HighArmona ElementaryParkview MiddleCrossroads Charter AcademyAkers ElementaryCentral ElementaryR. J. NeutraStratford ElementaryJefferson AcademyLincoln ElementaryMonroe ElementaryLee Richmond ElementaryRoosevelt ElementaryWoodrow Wilson Junior HighJohn F. Kennedy Junior HighMartin Luther King Jr. ElementaryGeorge Washington ElementaryJoseph M. SimasHamilton ElementaryHanford HighHanford West HighSierra Pacific HighHanford Online CharterIsland ElementaryKings River-Hardwick ElementaryKit Carson ElementaryMid Valley Alternative CharterLakeside ElementaryLemoore ElementaryMeadow Lane ElementaryP. W. Engvall ElementaryLiberty MiddleCinnamon ElementaryLemoore University Elementary CharterFreedom ElementaryLemoore HighPioneer ElementaryPioneer MiddleFrontier ElementaryKings County Selpa PreschoolSt Rose-Mccarthy Catholic School (private)Armona Union Academy (private)Mary Immaculate Queen School (private)FRESNO COUNTYKINGS COUNTYTULARE COUNTYHanford
Public Public charter Private County line District that covers the center of Hanford: Hanford Elementary School District
District and county lines: U.S. Census Bureau. Tap a dot for details. A home's assigned school depends on its address; check with the district before you buy or rent.

Closest public schools to the center of Hanford

Elementary
Kings Valley Academy II0.3 mi
Public charter
grades K to 12 · 1,066 students · 21.8 per teacher
Roosevelt Elementary0.7 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 461 students · 23.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 38%, math about 22% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Jefferson Academy0.7 mi
Public
grades K to 8 · 492 students · 27.3 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 67%, math about 50% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Middle
Kings Valley Academy II0.3 mi
Public charter
grades K to 12 · 1,066 students · 21.8 per teacher
Woodrow Wilson Junior High0.5 mi
Public
grades 7 to 8 · 568 students · 22.7 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 47%, math about 29% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
Roosevelt Elementary0.7 mi
Public
grades K to 6 · 461 students · 23.1 per teacher
Passed the state test: reading about 38%, math about 22% (state: reading about 45%, math about 34%)
High school
Kings Valley Academy II0.3 mi
Public charter
grades K to 12 · 1,066 students · 21.8 per teacher
Hanford West High0.4 mi
Public
grades 9 to 12 · 1,336 students · 21.9 per teacher
Kings County Selpa Preschool1.2 mi
Public
Private
St Rose-Mccarthy Catholic School0.8 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 95 students · 12.2 per teacher
Armona Union Academy3.5 mi
Private
grades K to 12 · 96 students · 9.8 per teacher
Mary Immaculate Queen School7.1 mi
Private
grades Pre-K to 8 · 114 students · 10.5 per teacher

Straight-line miles from the center of Hanford, nearest first. Being closest doesn't mean a school serves a given home. "Passed the state test" is the share of students who scored proficient or better on California's own reading and math tests in the 2021-22 school year, the latest year the U.S. Department of Education has published for every school. Each state sets its own test and passing bar, so compare schools within the same state, not across states. Test results track family income closely and leave out a lot (teachers, programs, how a school fits your child). For newer results, see the state's school report card.

Public school districts in the county

Hanford Elementary · Hanford
5,525 students · 22.6 students per teacher · 12 schools · grades K to 8
Hanford Joint Union High · Hanford
4,237 students · 23.3 students per teacher · 6 schools · grades 9 to 12
Kit Carson Union Elementary · Hanford
434 students · 18.9 students per teacher · 2 schools · grades K to 12

School choice and pre-K in California

Going to school in another district
Some districts must accept students from other districts (for example, from struggling schools), and others choose whether to. Ask the district you'd like.
Picking a different school in your district
State law says families can ask for a different school in the same district, and the district must allow it when there's room.
Free state pre-K
46% of 4-year-olds and 11% of 3-year-olds in California attend state-funded pre-K (U.S.: 37% and 9%). Spots, hours and who qualifies vary by district.

School choice: state law as summarized by the Education Commission of the States, 50-State Comparison: Open Enrollment Policies (2022). Pre-K: share of children in state-funded pre-K, National Institute for Early Education Research, State of Preschool 2025 Yearbook (2024-25 school year).

Special education in California

Federal rating for the state: Needs assistance (two or more years in a row)
Each year the U.S. Department of Education rates every state on how well it follows the special education law (IDEA) and on results for students with disabilities. This rates California as a whole, not your district or school. Each state also publishes yearly special education results for every district on its education department's website. Read California's 2026 rating letter.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, 2026 determinations on state implementation of IDEA Part B (issued June 18, 2026).

NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Private schools: NCES Private School Survey, 2021-22. Varro doesn't rank single schools. The area's Schools grade at the top of the page compares its test pass rates with the rest of the state only. For programs and newer results, see each district's site and the state's school report card.

Childcare and colleges

Daycare and preschool

California keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.

Typical full-time prices in this county (2022)
AgeDaycare centerHome daycare
Infant (under 2)$261/week
about $13,600 a year
$218/week
about $11,300 a year
Toddler (2)$184/week
about $9,600 a year
Preschool (3 to 4)$153/week
about $8,000 a year
$181/week
about $9,400 a year
School-age$86/week
about $4,500 a year

For an infant at a center: $261/week here, $371 across CA, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 19% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.

U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022. Middle (median) price for full-time care. State and U.S. figures average the county prices, weighted by population (Census 2024).
Search licensed childcare in California →
Link via childcare.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).

One college in the county around Hanford. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.

Lemoore College · Lemoore
Public, 2-year (community college) · 4,160 students · $1,384 in-state, $10,084 out-of-state

Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.

IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.

The facts behind it
Typical home value
$363,952
What a typical home sells for across the Hanford area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026
Average commute
23 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,616 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in CA. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively Moderate
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively Low
FEMA's rating for hail damage in the county, compared with other U.S. counties.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
2 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
12.9 per 100,000 people a year
20 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. CA average: 21.9 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
People without housing (local count)
About 23.1 per 10,000 residents
HUD's one-night count in January 2025 found 1,472 people without housing in the Visalia/Kings, Tulare Counties area (2 counties): 337 in shelters and 1,135 outside, down from 1,672 in 2024. CA: 46.1 per 10,000. U.S.: 21.9. One-night counts miss people, and how areas count differs.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time Count, January 2025 (HUD, 2025 report to Congress); Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$68,750
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.75% of home value a year
About $750 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 13.30%
CA's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.
Source: Tax Foundation and the state's tax agency, 2026

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