United States › California › Arcata CITY · 2010 ACS
Arcata California · 17,231 residents · 9.42 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 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 2024 ACS
The short version
Arcata is a city of 17,231 people in California. Owners hold 34% of the housing stock. The median age is 26.1, younger than the US median of 37.2. That trails the California median by roughly 47%. 28.5% of locals live below the federal poverty line. 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 28% nationally.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 26.1
US median: 37.2
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 107%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01
Population & growth from 25.8 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 16K 17K 18K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Arcata Age distribution, 2010
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Section 02
Income & economy $32,017
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,315 in 2000
US average: $52,703
from $15,531 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
from 32.2% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Workforce by industry, 2010
Professional, scientific, technical 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.8%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.1%
Public administration 0.8%
Transportation & warehousing 0.6%
Education & health services 0.1%
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$349,800
+107%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $133,500 in 2000
US average: $225,659
$797
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $546 in 2000
US average: $853
from 37.5% in 2000
65.9% rent
from 10.8% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
2.16 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.16 people in 2009
US average: 2.60
from 26.6% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
from 67.1% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 81.3%(13,538)
Hispanic / Latino 7.2%(1,202)
2010
White, non-Hispanic 76.3%(13,153)
Hispanic / Latino 11.6%(2,000)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 1 more hispanic origin group with data Ancestry
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data from 41.6% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07
Work & employment from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08
People & community from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 60.8%(5,197)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Arcata Head to head
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ARCATA VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Arcata, California? Arcata, California has about 17,231 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Arcata, California? The typical household in Arcata, California earns about $32,017 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 $349,800, and the typical rent is about $797 a month.
How educated are people in Arcata, California? About 41.7% 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 28.5% 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 2,034 residents, a change of about 13 percent over that period.
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