United States › California › Arcata CITY
Arcata California · 19,047 residents (2025 est.) · 9.42 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
Arcata is home to 18,607 people in California. The median age is 28.1, younger than the US median of 38.9. Owners hold 36% of the housing stock. That trails the California median by roughly 53%. 27.2% of locals live below the federal poverty line. People stay put here: 72% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 28.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
46% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 99%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 16,651 in 2000
19,047 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1,976 / sq mi
+9%since 2009
from 1,807 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 25.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 16K 17K 18K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Arcata Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $46,713
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,315 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,531 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 32.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.486 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 2.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Education & health services 1.3%
Transportation & warehousing 1.3%
Public administration 0.6%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$484,600
+99%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $133,500 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,327
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $546 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 37.5% in 2000
63.6% rent
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.16 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 67.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 11.9 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.3%(13,538)
Hispanic / Latino 7.2%(1,202)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 70.6%(13,128)
Hispanic / Latino 16%(2,982)
from 46 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 2 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 34 more ancestry groups with data from 41.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 77.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 11.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 84.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 93.7% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 69.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 84.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 10.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Women 15+
Never married 60.8%(5,197)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 43.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 25.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 12.9% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 35.1% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.5% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 61.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 45.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 0%(0)
Gulf War (1990s) 14.9%(74)
Share of the 495 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Arcata, California? Arcata, California has about 18,607 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Arcata, California? The typical household in Arcata, California earns about $46,713 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Arcata, California expensive? In Arcata, California, the median home is worth about $484,600, and the typical rent is about $1,327 a month.
How educated are people in Arcata, California? About 46.3% of adults age 25 and over in Arcata, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Arcata, California? About 27.2% of people in Arcata, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Arcata, California grown since 1990? Yes, Arcata, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,410 residents, a change of about 22 percent over that period.
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