Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Arcata's standout: it has 33 miles of trail and 35% conserved land. Overall it grades C−, 466th among California's 841 graded towns. Its public schools beat 78% of California towns on state tests and graduation and it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 97% of U.S. towns. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $468K for a typical one and 7.7 times the Eureka area’s $61K median household income. 27% of residents live below the poverty line in Arcata, above both the California town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Arcata's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 98% of U.S. towns. Arcata is home to California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
Where Arcata beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Census counts: 702 in 1880, 18,857 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1814 and 4 maps from 1922 on.
9 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Arcata is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Who provides power, water and the rest in Arcata, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Arcata.
Arcata is shaped by its college students, keeps more of its land conserved than most of California and is healthier than towns with similar incomes.
Its 2,549 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 94% of California towns. Its A+ for the outdoors ranks #11 of 847 in California.
33 miles of trail in 20 parks and preserves. Arcata’s trail density is 2.9 miles per square mile. The biggest place to walk is Arcata Community Forest, 683 acres with 15 miles of trail.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arcata Community Forest | 15 mi | 683 |
| 2. Arcata Community Forest - Sunny Brae Tract | 4.1 mi | 335 |
| 3. Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary | 4 mi | 265 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Three of its 16 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Union ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 534 | B+ |
| Arcata HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,007 | A− |
| Union Street CharterTop results in townGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 99 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
28.6% of residents are enrolled in college, against 7.6% statewide, which pulls the median age down. The median household earns $46,713, against $99,122 across California, one input to its C for jobs and income.
Adults 18 to 34 are 48% of residents (24% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 26% of residents (39% statewide). 12% of Arcata residents are under 18. 46% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
| Arcata | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 12% | 22% | 22% |
| Median age | 28.1 years | 39.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 46% | 29% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 14% | 16% | 18% |
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.5 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 27.4, men 28.9.
| Arcata | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 30.5% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17.6% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.1% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.7% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.9% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.3% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 15.2% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.4% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.1% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 19.3% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 95% of U.S. communities. Since 1983, 11 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Arcata.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Reported crimes fell from 467 to 386 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
The violent crime rate in Arcata is 3.6 per 1,000 residents.
| Arcata | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.6 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17 per 1,000 residents | 13.3 | 9.9 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
The typical value, about $468K, is 17% below its July 2022 peak. At about $468K, home values are down 9% in five years, against a rise of 13% across California.
36% of households own their home in Arcata. The typical Arcata home is worth about $468,000, down 3.7% in a year, 38% below the California typical home.
| Arcata | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 36% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,327 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Against the 4,551 U.S. towns with household incomes like Arcata’s, it is healthier than 97%, so its B+ isn’t only a matter of income.
Only 5 of the 847 California towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Arcata. Arcata beats the California average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11.
| Arcata | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 17% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 67% | 72% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 16% | 16% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 22% | 23% |
| What stands out | Arcata | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults with diabetes | 7.7% | 11.7% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.3% | 10.6% |
| More adults with depression | 28.4% | 20.1% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
January nights average 41.6°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 65.1°.
Among 846 California towns, just 10 have a lower July high than Arcata. Arcata has warm winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
| Arcata | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 65°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 42°F | 40°F | 22°F |
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
The average commute for its 6,553 working residents takes 17.8 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
About one in 3 of Arcata’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Eureka (26%), McKinleyville (5%) and Myrtletown (2%). Half commute less than 6 miles.
| Arcata | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 36% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 18 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $47,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 15% | 14% | 11% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Arcata. Close and well known come first.
16 mi National ParkRedwood National Park1.2M visitors a year7 mi Zoo & aquariumSequoia Park Zoo
38 mi State parkHumboldt Redwoods State Park
in town MuseumArcata Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wildlife Sanctuary
38 mi State parkPrairie Creek Redwoods State Park
6 mi MuseumClarke Historical MuseumRedwood National Park: Michael Schweppe, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Humboldt Redwoods State Park: Jason Sturner, CC BY 2.0 · Arcata Wastewater Treatment Plant and Wildlife Sanctuary: Monotropa_uniflora (talk) (Uploads), Public domain · Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park: California Department of Parks and Recreation, Public domain · Clarke Historical Museum: NoeHill, CC BY-SA 3.0
2 within 15 miles of the center of Arcata
College town 29 of every 100 Arcata residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
35.3% of the town is conserved land, across 20 parks and preserves.
9 places in Arcata on the National Register of Historic Places.
13 notable people were born in Arcata.
City in the United States
Arcata (; Wiyot: Goudi’ni; Yurok: Oket'oh) is a city adjacent to the Arcata Bay (northern) portion of Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County, California, United States. At the 2020 census, Arcata's population was 18,857. Arcata was first founded in 1850 as Union, was officially established in 1858, and was renamed Arcata in 1860. It is located 280 miles (450 km) north of San Francisco (via Highway 101), and is home to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. Arcata is also the location of the Arcata Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Land Management, which is responsible for the administration of natural resources, lands and mineral programs, including the Headwaters Forest, on approx…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
One town shares a border with Arcata.
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcata | #466 | C− | D− | C− | A− | B+ |
| McKinleyville | #538 | C− | D− | — | B | B |
McKinleyville reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Arcata with a neighbor →
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Arcata grades C− overall, better than 23% of U.S. towns and #466 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health, C− for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.
13 notable people were born here, including Naomi Lang and Brisa Roché.
