Hanford
RANK #369 / 996 NAT · #3 / 43 CA · POP 152,515
1YR FORECAST: +1.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Kings County, California, located in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, offers a distinctive blend of rural charm and natural amenities. Hanford, the county seat, boasts a historic downtown with buildings dating back to the late 1800s, including the Hanford Carnegie Museum. The county is approximately 30 miles south of Fresno and 20 miles west of Visalia, with commute times averaging 23 minutes for residents. While largely flat and agricultural, the western edge of the county touches the Inner South Coast Ranges, featuring the Kettleman Hills and Table Mountain, the highest point in Kings County. The Kings River, a federally designated Wild & Scenic River, provides opportunities for water sports, fishing, and boating, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are less than a two-hour drive away.
Life in Kings County often centers around its close-knit communities, with a significant portion of residents owning their homes. Educational options include various elementary and high school districts, such as Hanford Elementary and Lemoore Union High School Districts. The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, with the county consistently ranking among California's top producers in commodities like milk, pistachios, and tomatoes. Beyond agriculture, Naval Air Station Lemoore is a major employer, and the county has seen recent investments in commercial, residential, and energy sectors, including projects like the California High-Speed Rail.
Above national median (4.7x)
Above national median
Below national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.0x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Westlands Solar Park (Aquamarine, Solar Blue, Chestnut, Grape, Cherry, Slate, Mustang One and Two, RE Kent South, American Kings Solar)
CIM Group, MN8 Energy, Recurrent Energy, Westside Holdings LLC
|
$2,000M | Operating |
|
Slate Solar + Storage Project
MN8 Energy (originally Recurrent Energy)
|
$440M | Operating |
|
Sunglow Battery Storage Project
Unknown
|
$372M | Planned |
|
Kingsley Solar Farm
EDF Renewables North America
|
$320M | Under Construction |
|
Fargo Village (Mixed-use development)
Unknown
|
$100M | Proposed |
|
Hanford Place (Mixed-use development)
Unknown
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 63/100, Kings County sits in the upper half of all 996 ranked counties. Employment is expanding at +1.6%, and median household income stands at $68,540 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in CA.
Kings County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $281,400 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.24 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,201/month on average.
Employers in Kings County are hiring — job growth of +1.6% — but the population is close to flat (+0.4% YoY). Home values moved +2.1% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
In significant numbers — 5.2% of Kings County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.