Photo: Jss3255 · CC BY-SA 4.0Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Arcata is healthier than 97%
Arcata differs from California on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 9 better, 11 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Arcata. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Arcata
Depression is more common in Arcata
3 in 10 adults have been diagnosed with depression (28.4%), vs 20.1% across California. Frequent mental distress is above the state too: 22.6%, vs 16.4% across California. Mind & connection ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Arcata doesn’t win on
20% of adults binge drink, vs 15.3% across California, even though more of them exercise. Habits ↓
Arcata is behind on routine checkups
It trails California on three of five routine checkups and screenings: yearly checkups (67.1% vs 71.9%), dentist visits (58.6% vs 62.8%) and cholesterol checks (77.5% vs 85.4%). Checkups ↓
Arcata is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Arcata is healthier than 68%. Against the 4,551 towns with similar household incomes ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 97%. Health Grade ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the California figure falls outside Arcata’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
What’s behind Arcata’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Arcata is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns, #370 of 847 in California. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than 97% of U.S. towns); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Arcata’s median household income is $46,713; among the 4,551 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($35K–$58K), it’s healthier than 97%, more than its income alone would suggest.
How Arcata adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Arcata runs above California.
2 in 5 Arcata adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Everyday habits, side by side with California
Share of adults, with the California figure marked.
33 miles of trails across 20 parks and preserves
Keeping up with care
Share of Arcata adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks California.
Out of every 100 Arcata adults…
Arcata runs below CA on 7 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Care in and near Arcata
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Arcata, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Arcata; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
18.6% of Arcata adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 15.6% across California.
Arcata and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcata | B+ | 29.7% | 7.7% | 12.3% | CDC place |
| McKinleyville | B | 30.9% | 10.2% | 13.5% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Arcata adults live with a disability (California 30.4%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Arcata
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Arcata is better than California on 9 and worse on 11; on the rest, the California figure falls inside Arcata’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Arcata | CA | U.S. | vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 20%17.8–22.4 | 22.1% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 12.8%11.4–14.2 | 13.4% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 22.6%20.5–25.1 | 16.4% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 29.7%24–36.1 | 27.8% | 32.9% | About the same |
| Diabetes | 7.7%6.8–8.8 | 11.7% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 24.3%21.5–27.3 | 30.5% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 27.9%24.8–31.2 | 35.4% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 17.8%15.9–20 | 20.8% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.2%10–12.5 | 9.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 5.5%5–6 | 6.4% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.6%4.2–5.1 | 5.6% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 5.5%4.9–6.1 | 5.1% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.5%2.3–2.7 | 3.1% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.6%10.9–16.5 | 10.6% | 12.3% | Worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.3%10.7–14.1 | 10.9% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 21%17.9–24.5 | 24.6% | 24.7% | Better |
| Binge drinking | 20%16.7–23.5 | 15.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 34.9%28.7–41.3 | 35.1% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 8.3%7–9.7 | 10.6% | 11% | Better |
| Checkup in the past year | 67.1%62.8–71.2 | 71.9% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 58.6%54.7–62.1 | 62.8% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 77.5%75.1–79.9 | 85.4% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 63.5%60.8–66 | 71.3% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 60.7%55.4–65.8 | 57.5% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 73.5%65.2–80.4 | 75.7% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 28.4%24.8–32.3 | 20.1% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 37.7%32.5–43 | 37.3% | 32.5% | About the same |
| Lack social and emotional support | 25.7%22.2–29.5 | 28.6% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.7%16.2–21.6 | 17.9% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.9%12.9–17.1 | 14.9% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.9%7.7–10.2 | 7.3% | 7.6% | Worse |
| Lack reliable transportation | 11.8%10.5–13.4 | 9.3% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 18.6%16.3–21.3 | 15.6% | 11.6% | Higher |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 32%28.3–36 | 30.4% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 11%9.8–12.4 | 13.8% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 19.1%17.2–21.2 | 14.6% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.4%4.8–6 | 5.9% | 6.7% | About the same |
| Vision difficulty | 5.3%4.9–5.8 | 5.6% | 5.4% | About the same |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 10%9–11.1 | 8.1% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3.5%3.2–3.8 | 3.9% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the California figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Arcata
Is Arcata a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Arcata is healthier than 68% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #370 of 847 in California. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Arcata?
CDC estimates 29.7% of adults have obesity, likely between 24% and 36.1%, against 27.8% across California and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Arcata?
Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata, 2.6 miles in a straight line from Arcata’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 1 of 5 stars.
How many people in Arcata have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 8.3% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 7–9.7%), against 10.6% across California.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Arcata more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B− to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Arcata.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The California figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.