Median Age
31 Years
Largest Age Group
20-29 Years
Approximately 28% of Residents
Under 20
20%
Over 65
13%
Arcata
Arcata, CA Area Guide
Avg Rent
$1,139
Population
19,315
Renter Mix
67% Rent
Soak in natural beauty and outdoor recreation
Coastal
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Scenic
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Welcoming
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Active
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College Town
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Mountain Views
•
Quaint
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Charming
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Modern
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Located in northern California, Arcata sits on the Arcata Bay portion of the Humboldt Bay surrounded by towering Cascade mountain range and redwood forests. Naturally, Arcata is ripe with opportunities for outdoor recreation, from hiking to boating and everything in between. Arcata is also home to Humboldt State University, which contributes a range of cultural events to the community.
Arcata hosts many of its own events as well, including a weekly Farmers Market, the annual Oyster Festival, Kinetic Grand Championship, Holiday Craft Market, Arts! Arcata, and more. Arcata is about 300 miles from major cities like Portland and San Francisco. Convenience to U.S. 101 makes getting around from Arcata simple.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$43,456
Average: $65,716
Education
7,879
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
9,730
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Arcata has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
67%
Non-Renters
33%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
32%
Other Education
68%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Arcata, CA is $1,033 for a studio, $1,139 for one bedroom, $1,425 for two bedrooms, and $1,569 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Arcata has decreased by -0.6% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,139/month
464 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Arcata, CA is for everyday living.
Somewhat Walkable
Walkability
20
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
90
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
50
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
99 Students
Public
Grades K-5
40 Students
Public
Grades K-8
235 Students
Public
Grades K-8
534 Students
Public
Grades K-5
150 Students
Public
Grades K-8
235 Students
Northcoast Preparatory And Performing Arts Academy
Public
Grades 6-12
118 Students
Public
Grades K-8
534 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
232 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,007 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
113 Students
Northcoast Preparatory And Performing Arts Academy
Public
Grades 6-12
118 Students
Pacific Coast High (Continuation) School
Public
Grades 9-12
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Parks and Recreation
- Humboldt State University Natural History Museum
- Azalea State Reserve
- Humboldt Botanical Garden
- Discovery Museum at Jefferson Community Center
- Sequoia Park Zoo
Airports
- California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County
Top Apartments in Arcata
Houses for Rent in Arcata
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.