
Moving to Hercules, CA
Is Hercules a good place to live?
Hercules ranks #7 of 304 California cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (81/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.8% in the latest Census year.
Cost of living in Hercules
The median home value in Hercules is $741,200 and median rent is $3,003 a month, against a median household income of $130,583. Homes cost about 5.7× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).
Hercules crime rate
City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across California the 2025 rate was 435 violent and 1,821 property crimes per 100,000 people — #9 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.
Moving to Hercules, CA
Hercules has about 26,245 residents, 4.7% unemployment and 32% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Compare Hercules with
More: Where to move in California · Best counties in California
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.
Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.
See the full Smart Movers Club report