Arcata

Population: 18,578
Median household income: $48,731
Median home value: $466,600

Arcata is a community in Humboldt County, California, home to 18,578 residents. Its median household income of $48,731 runs below the Humboldt County figure of $61,135.

From 2019 to 2023, Arcata's population grew 2.2% from 18,178 to 18,578, while its median home value rose 36.8% from $341,000 to $466,600.

44.8% of homes are single-family detached houses. The typical home was built around 1976.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 18,578
Median age: 28.0 yrs
Median household income: $48,731
Median home value: $466,600
Median gross rent: $1,287
Housing units: 8,376
Homeownership rate: 33.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 45.1%
Unemployment rate: 13.2%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

18,17818,578

Median household income

$35,506$48,731

Median home value

$341,000$466,600

Median gross rent

$1,023$1,287

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	18,178	$35,506	$341,000	$1,023
2020	18,266	$38,603	$356,800	$1,027
2021	19,038	$39,069	$364,100	$1,169
2022	18,536	$43,444	$412,100	$1,236
2023	18,578	$48,731	$466,600	$1,287

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 52.3%

5 to 1710.3%

18 to 2430.0%

25 to 3417.5%

35 to 4412.4%

45 to 547.1%

55 to 647.4%

65 to 748.7%

75 and over4.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	428	2.3%
5 to 17	1,906	10.3%
18 to 24	5,570	30.0%
25 to 34	3,252	17.5%
35 to 44	2,297	12.4%
45 to 54	1,315	7.1%
55 to 64	1,370	7.4%
65 to 74	1,624	8.7%
75 and over	816	4.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	13,176	70.9%
Black or African American	386	2.1%
American Indian & Alaska Native	109	0.6%
Asian	412	2.2%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	84	0.5%
Some other race	279	1.5%
Two or more races	1,270	6.8%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,862	15.4%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma5.0%

High school graduate14.2%

Some college or associate's35.7%

Bachelor's degree28.3%

Graduate or professional degree16.7%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	530	5.0%
High school graduate	1,520	14.2%
Some college or associate's	3,815	35.7%
Bachelor's degree	3,025	28.3%
Graduate or professional degree	1,784	16.7%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 18 min

Drove alone59.2%

Carpooled9.7%

Public transit1.4%

Walked12.8%

Bicycle1.8%

Worked from home13.4%

Other means1.7%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	5,335	59.2%
Carpooled	875	9.7%
Public transit	130	1.4%
Walked	1,158	12.8%
Bicycle	165	1.8%
Worked from home	1,205	13.4%
Other means	149	1.7%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	3,983	51.0%
15 to 29 min	2,814	36.0%
30 to 44 min	489	6.3%
45 to 59 min	173	2.2%
60+ min	353	4.5%

Households

Average household size: 2.21
Poverty rate: 29.6% (5,019 of 16,966)

	Count	Share
Family households	2,945	38.4%
Nonfamily households	4,715	61.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1976

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	7,660	91.5%
Vacant	716	8.5%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	2,597	33.9%
Renter-occupied	5,063	66.1%

1-unit, detached44.8%

1-unit, attached6.3%

2 to 4 units17.4%

5 to 19 units18.9%

20 or more units6.7%

Mobile home & other6.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	3,749	44.8%
1-unit, attached	524	6.3%
2 to 4 units	1,456	17.4%
5 to 19 units	1,581	18.9%
20 or more units	564	6.7%
Mobile home & other	502	6.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 0602476
Type (LSAD): 25
Land area: 9.42 sq mi
Water area: 1.95 sq mi
Center point: 40.8623, -124.0750