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California›Kings County

StratfordCA

A town of 973, settled in 1910.

Is Stratford a good place to live?

Stratford has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.

Small town

973 people, and everyone knows the way

In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.

Nearby towns
Getting set up

Moving to Stratford: who provides what

Stratford is unincorporated, so Kings County and regional agencies provide most services.

PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterStratford PUD water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesKings CountyKings County provides services here
SchoolsCentral Union Elementary School DistrictLemoore Union High School District2 districts serve Stratford; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.gov
Who runs elections hereCounty of Kings ElectionsKings County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP code9326693266 100%Census 2020

EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

The data

Ordered by what stands out in Stratford.

Housing

Zillow puts the typical Stratford home at about $264K

The share of households in Stratford who are owner-occupiers is 62%, against 64% in California’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns.

$264KZillow home value

Typical home value

Stratford$264K
California$762K
+0.1%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

Schools

The schools Stratford’s kids attend

The Central Union Elementary school district runs its public schools. Its one school is below. Stratford’s only public school teaches 294 students.

SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Stratford ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8Grades K–8294–

NCES · EDFacts

Work & commute

A larger share of residents in Stratford live below the poverty line than in the typical California or U.S. town

1.5% of Stratford working residents work locally. In Stratford, the median household income is $63,000, below both California’s towns ($95,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). The mean commuting time here is 19 minutes. Between 2013 and 2023, jobs in Stratford dropped by 143, to 97.

1%work in town
StratfordCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Below the poverty line32%10%9.6%
Average trip to work19 minutes28 minutes25 minutes
Median household income$63,000$95,000$80,000
Working residents who work in town1.5%6.6%8%

Where working residents work

In Stratford1%
Hanford9%
Fresno7%
Lemoore6%
Visalia5%
28 mi
median commute distance
97
jobs based in Stratford
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Natural hazards

High risk in Stratford, with drought at the top

Of the losses FEMA expects in Stratford, 72% come from drought and 13% from inland flooding. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 78% of U.S. communities.

78risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
78High riskLowerHigher
DroughtInland floodingHeat waves

FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

Climate

Stratford: mild winters and hot summers

In Stratford, the July high is 98°F.

98°summer high

Typical low → high °F

Winter39–59°
Spring50–76°
Summer64–96°
Fall52–80°
Dec 1
typical first frost
Feb 7
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
98°
typical summer high

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Health

Stratford stands out in California and nationally, with more of its adults who say their health is fair or poor

18% of adults smoke cigarettes in Stratford. Against the California average, Stratford comes out ahead on 1 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 20. Two figures for adults here: 21% report frequent physical distress, 42% get no exercise outside work.

StratfordCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES)40%22%19%
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)21%14%14%
Get no exercise (CDC PLACES)42%24%25%
Feel lonely (CDC PLACES)42%36%33%
32 measures vs. California
1 better11 too close to call20 worse
What stands outStratfordCA
Fewer adults who have had cancer4.5%6.4%
More uninsured adults29.1%10.6%
Adventist Health Hanford
13.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Stratford

16pages on Stratford
After high school

Colleges nearby

1 within 15 miles of the center of Stratford

About 4 of every 100 Stratford residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

A shrinking town

Stratford has shrunk 12% from 2010 to 2020

1,277 counted in 2010 and 1,121 in 2020.

1,2772010
1,1212020

U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts

Questions about Stratford

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Stratford, CA a good place to live?

Stratford has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.