United States › California › Arcata CITY · 2020 ACS
Arcata California · 18,857 residents · 9.42 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Arcata is a city of 18,857 people in California. Owners hold 33% of the housing stock. The median age is 28.5, younger than the US median of 38.8. 34.5% of locals live below the federal poverty line. Households here earn about 51% less than in California as a whole. People stay put here: 69% were in the same home a year ago.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 28.5
US median: 38.8
More educated
48% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 78%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 25.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
15K 16K 17K 18K 19K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Arcata Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $38,603
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $22,315 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,531 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 17.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 32.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 2.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 2%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.5%
Education & health services 1.3%
Public administration 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing 0.7%
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$356,800
+78%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $133,500 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,027
+25%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $546 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 37.5% in 2000
66.6% rent
from 2.16 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
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)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 64.4%(12,145)
Hispanic / Latino 19.8%(3,739)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 32 more ancestry groups with data from 41.6% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 87.6% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 13.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 10.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 57.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 9.3% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Women 15+
Never married 60.8%(5,197)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 20.9% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 26.3%(187)
Share of the 712 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
Compare Arcata to nearby cities ARCATA VS
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ARCATA VS
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ARCATA VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Arcata, California? Arcata, California has about 18,857 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Arcata, California? The typical household in Arcata, California earns about $38,603 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 $356,800, and the typical rent is about $1,027 a month.
How educated are people in Arcata, California? About 47.9% 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 34.5% 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 3,660 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
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