City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Arcadia, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Arcadia - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

55,550
Residents
$116,142
Median income
$1,336,500
Median home
$2,601
Median rent (state)

Arcadia - the verdict

Nationally, Arcadia sits in the 86th percentile for household income and the 15th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

86th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
93rd
percentile, median rent
15th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Arcadia, CA

California's Arcadia is a small city, with 55,550 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Arcadia brings in $116,142 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 5.1%. Arcadia's housing stock carries a median value of $1,336,500, and the median resident age is 43.2 years. Educational attainment runs 57.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 55.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 456 residential building permits were authorized in Arcadia (Building Boom), up 214% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Arcadia's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3050.8 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,601 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 100.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

55,550 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$116,142 /yr

Poverty 5.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Arcadia compare to other US cities?

Where Arcadia sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 93% pricier than other cities
Safety 15% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Arcadia ranks #362 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Arcadia's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

86thIncome percentile
15thSafety percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income · 15th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Arcadia's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Arcadia's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 35 Avg. percentile National median
Arcadia's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Arcadia's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$1,336,500 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Arcadia $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Arcadia, CA Arcadia, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Arcadia, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Arcadia, CA median $116,142/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Arcadia, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Arcadia, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 57.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
55,550
Median Income
$116,142
Median Home Value
$1,336,500
Median Age
43.2
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Labor force participation
55.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
57.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3050.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
230.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2820.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
12
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
53,000 residents54,000 residents55,000 residents56,000 residents57,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 56,478 residents 54,117 residents ▼ -4.2%
Arcadia's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
456
housing units authorized
Single-Family
83
detached homes
Multifamily
373
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 145
2020 165
2021 197
2022 181
2023 169
2024 456

Permit volume increased 214% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
63.8%
Carpool
10.1%
Public Transit
1.9%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
21.2%
Other
2.0%

Based on 24,042 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Arcadia sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,601/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
100.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

South Whittier
55,201 people
National City
55,960 people
Hacienda Heights
54,956 people
Beaumont
54,817 people
San Jacinto
54,756 people
Fountain Valley
56,358 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Arcadia's 55,550 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Coeur d'Alene, ID
55,558 people
Southaven, MS
55,531 people
Olympia, WA
55,583 people
Mount Prospect, IL
55,648 people
Apple Valley, MN
55,696 people
Tigard, OR
55,395 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Arcadia's $116,142 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Singac, NJ
$116,136 median income
Poplar Grove, AR
$116,161 median income
Edmonds, WA
$116,095 median income
River Road, WA
$116,087 median income
Wilton Center, CT
$116,081 median income
Mead, CO
$116,074 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Arcadia, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Arcadia, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 24.4% 57.4% 10.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.4% White 24.4% Black or African American 1.2% Asian 57.4% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 5.8% Two or more races 10.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Arcadia compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Arcadia (this city) 55,550 $116,142
South Whittier 55,201 $98,974
National City 55,960 $64,248
Hacienda Heights 54,956 $106,620
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Arcadia, CA?

What is the population of Arcadia, CA? +

Arcadia, CA counts 55,550 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Arcadia, CA? +

Median annual household income in Arcadia runs $116,142, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Arcadia? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Arcadia; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Arcadia, CA safe? +

Arcadia has a total crime rate of 3050.8 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Arcadia, CA? +

Homes in Arcadia carry a median value of $1,336,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.