City · California
Arcata, California
Arcata, city, in Humboldt County, California. Arcata had 19,047 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 18,857 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 18,607 (±32). GEOID 0602476.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
19,047
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 18,857 · ACS 2020-2024: 18,607 ±32
Median household income
$46,713
±$7,736 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$484,600
±$24,804 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,327
±$65 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Arcata and what county is it in?
Arcata is a city in Humboldt County, California. It covers 9.4 square miles of land, 2,003 residents per square mile in 2020.
Arcata is in the Eureka-Arcata, CA micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Arcata, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 19,047 people lived in Arcata on July 1, 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 18,857 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 18,607 (±32).
| Measure | Arcata | Humboldt County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 18,607 ±32 | 134,541 | +429 |
| Households | 7,884 ±452 | 54,922 | +729 |
| Average household size | 2.14 ±0.12 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 8,636 ±466 | 62,883 | +710 |
Arcata's population since 2000
From 16,651 in 2000 to 19,047 in 2025: up 14.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Arcata as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Arcata?
The median resident of Arcata is 28.1 years old; 11.8% are under 18 and 14.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 70.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.0%. 4.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Arcata | Humboldt County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.1 ±1.8 | 39.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 11.8% ±1.8 pts | 18.8% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.2% ±1.8 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Male | 48.4% ±2.5 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.0% ±2.4 pts | 14.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 70.6% ±3.3 pts | 69.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±1.3 pts | 1.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1% ±0.6 pts | 3.0% | −2.8 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.5 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.0% ±1.7 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.6% ±1.4 pts | 6.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 11.5% ±2.4 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.0% ±0.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| With a disability | 16.4% ±2.5 pts | 18.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.8% ±1.4 pts | 4.9% | −3.3 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.0% ±1.8 pts | 91.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 46.3% ±3.6 pts | 33.1% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.3% ±3.0 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 72.0% ±2.9 pts | 85.3% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.9% ±1.3 pts | 1.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Arcata earn?
Half of Arcata's 7,884 households earn less than $46,713 a year (±$7,736), against $61,160 in Humboldt County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $43,697 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 27.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Arcata | Humboldt County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $46,713 ±$7,736 | $61,160 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $73,276 ±$6,938 | $86,064 | – |
| Per capita income | $32,307 ±$2,781 | $36,080 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 27.2% ±4.6 pts | 18.7% | −10.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 21.2% ±9.1 pts | 17.5% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.0% ±4.6 pts | 21.0% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.3% ±1.5 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.0% ±2.6 pts | 90.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Arcata?
Owners occupy 36.4% of Arcata's occupied homes and renters 63.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $484,600 by its owner (±$24,804). The median renter pays $1,327 a month including utilities, and 56.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Arcata | Humboldt County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $484,600 ±$24,804 | $446,900 | +$64,933 |
| Median gross rent | $1,327 ±$65 | $1,287 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 56.4% ±6.1 pts | 53.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,214 ±$250 | $2,147 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 36.4% ±3.8 pts | 56.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 63.6% ±3.8 pts | 43.5% | – |
| Housing units | 8,636 ±466 | 62,883 | +710 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3% ±2.2 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 44.4% ±3.8 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 5.5% ±1.8 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.6% ±2.7 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.9% ±2.6 pts | 13.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.6% ±2.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Arcata building?
Builders took permits for 30 new housing units in Arcata in 2025 (9 in single-family houses; the permit office reported 9 of 12 months), 1.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Arcata work and get to work?
58.6% of Arcata's workers drive alone and 15.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.9%.
| Measure | Arcata | Humboldt County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.8% ±3.7 pts | 56.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.9% ±2.8 pts | 9.0% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 58.6% ±4.8 pts | 67.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5% ±2.9 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4% ±0.8 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Walked | 10.6% ±2.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.4% ±3.7 pts | 13.0% | +9.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.8 min ±2.6 | 19.0 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Arcata?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Arcata, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $38,478 (Tract 10.02) to $75,677 (Tract 11.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 11.02Humboldt County | 4,762 | $47,052 |
| Tract 10.01Humboldt County | 3,137 | $55,563 |
| Tract 10.02Humboldt County | 3,006 | $38,478 |
| Tract 9Humboldt County | 5,305 | $91,488 |
| Tract 11.03Humboldt County | 2,232 | $75,677 |
| Tract 12Humboldt County | 4,998 | $41,457 |
| Tract 13Humboldt County | 1,695 | $59,154 |
| Tract 105.02Humboldt County | 5,844 | $76,556 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Arcata) · Census block assignment files
How does Arcata compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Arcata is the 2,015th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 306th-most populous of 483 in California.
Arcata ranks 987th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 306th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 134th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 589th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 987th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 739th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 658th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 784th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 59th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 272nd | 988 |
| Median age | 1,021st | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,026th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 430th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 1,007th | 1,069 |
Arcata's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Arcata with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Arcata?
5 of the 57 figures for Arcata on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Arcata are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Arcata.