The Town FilesArcata, California
City in Humboldt County · population 18,857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $484,600
- Household income
- $46,713
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 63°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 28.1
Arcata is a city of 18,857 people in Humboldt County, California. The median home is worth $484,600, below the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks hipper than 97% of California towns, better for young professionals than 95% of California towns, better for cycling than 93% of California towns.
How Arcata ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arcata is worth $484,600, below the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 10.4 times the median household income of $46,713, which is more affordable than 7% of California towns. Median rent is $1,327 a month. 36.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arcata | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,600 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $1,327 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $46,713 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 10.4× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 36.4% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Arcata
| People | Arcata | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.1 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.3% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.2% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 3.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 17.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 93.3% |
Weather in Arcata
July highs average 63.1°F and January lows 40.8°F. About 40.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 8 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcata since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical California town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 29, 1958 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 25, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on December 10, 2015.
Severe weather in Humboldt County since 1996
Humboldt County has been included in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| March 22, 2020 | Biological | DR-4482: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Humboldt County
Humboldt County had 51,858 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,212 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Arcata itself the ACS puts it at 11.9%.
Public schools in Arcata
13 public schools with 3,445 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcata High | 9-12 | 1,011 | 19.4 |
| Pacific Union Elementary | K-8 | 529 | 18.2 |
| Jacoby Creek | K-8 | 462 | 21.0 |
| Arcata Elementary | K-5 | 253 | 15.8 |
| Sunny Brae Middle | 6-8 | 240 | 17.1 |
| Coastal Grove Charter (charter) | K-8 | 220 | 14.7 |
| Laurel Tree Charter (charter) | K-12 | 173 | 12.4 |
| Fuente Nueva Charter (charter) | K-5 | 140 | 17.5 |
| Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy (charter) | 6-12 | 130 | 43.3 |
| Six Rivers Charter High (charter) | 9-12 | 106 | 21.2 |
| Union Street Charter (charter) | K-5 | 99 | 16.5 |
| Trillium Charter (charter) | K-5 | 42 | 14.0 |
Towns near Arcata
- Myrtletown, CA5.9 mi · 4,882 people · home $453,400
- Eureka, CA6.1 mi · 26,512 people · home $404,500
- McKinleyville, CA6.2 mi · 16,262 people · home $457,600
- Cutten, CA7.6 mi · 3,223 people · home $471,300
- Bayview, CA8.6 mi · 2,619 people · home $416,400
- Pine Hills, CA10.0 mi · 3,186 people · home $487,800
- Humboldt Hill, CA11.6 mi · 3,498 people · home $406,500
- Fortuna, CA19.3 mi · 12,516 people · home $379,700
Arcata questions
Is Arcata, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arcata scores better for retirees than 41% of California towns and quieter than 43%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.1).
How much does a house cost in Arcata?
The median owner-occupied home in Arcata is valued at $484,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,713, so homes cost about 10.4 times income. Median rent is $1,327 a month.
What is the weather like in Arcata?
July highs average 63.1°F and January lows 40.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Arcata get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcata since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 29, 1958. The typical California town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)