City

Arcata, CA

2 ZIP codes  ·  Humboldt County  ·  California

👥21,684Population
💰$54,324Median HH Income▼ 29% below avg
🎂29.2Median Age
🏠$478,600Median Home Value▲ 72% above avg
🎓55.6%College Grads▲ 43% above avg
📊12.2%Unemployment▲ 149% above avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 49.3% Female 50.8% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 71.6%Hispanic: 14.9%Black: 1.8%Asian: 2.3%Other: 7%Race
White71.6%
Hispanic14.9%
Black1.8%
Asian2.3%
Other7.0%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
3%
5–17
11%
18–24
27%
25–44
29%
45–64
15%
65+
7%

Key Indicators

Median Age29.2 yrs
Avg HH Size2.26
Below Poverty24.7% ▲ 147% above avg
College Grads55.6% ▲ 43% above avg
Unemployment12.2% ▲ 149% above avg
No HS Diploma121 (1%)
HS Graduate1,688 (13.9%)
Some College1,250 (10.3%)
Associates2,349 (19.3%)
Bachelors1,306 (10.7%)
Graduate Degree5,461 (44.9%)

Education

No HS: 1%HS Grad: 13.9%Some College: 10.3%Associates: 19.3%Bachelors: 10.7%Graduate: 44.9%Edu
No HS1.0%
HS Grad13.9%
Some College10.3%
Associates19.3%
Bachelors10.7%
Graduate44.9%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 36.7%Renter: 63.3%Tenure
Owner36.7%
Renter63.3%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
4%
$50k–$100k
6%
$100k–$150k
1%
$150k–$200k
0%
$200k–$300k
6%
$300k–$500k
37%
Over $500k
45%

Financials

Median HH Income$54,324 ▼ 29% below avg
Median Home Value$478,600 ▲ 72% above avg
Home/Income Ratio8.8x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$1,300/mo
Total Housing Units9,797
Vacant Units937

Income Distribution

Under $25k
26%
$25k–$50k
19%
$50k–$75k
18%
$75k–$100k
13%
$100k–$150k
12%
$150k–$200k
6%
Over $200k
6%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
71%
Public Transit
1%
Walked
13%
Work From Home
15%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
50%
15–30 min
36%
30–45 min
7%
Over 45 min
6%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
4%
1940s–1950s
19%
1960s–1970s
14%
1980s–1990s
8%
2000+
54%
About Arcata, CA

Arcata is a city in California, located in Humboldt County. The city spans 2 ZIP codes and is home to approximately 21,684 residents. It is a young city, with a median age of 29.2 years.

Economically, Arcata is a working-class community. The median household income of $54,324 is below the national average. Approximately 24.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 12.2%, more than double the national average.

The real estate market in Arcata is a premium housing market. Median home values stand at $478,600, which is significantly above the national average. Renters typically pay around $1,300 per month. At 36.7% owner-occupied, renters make up the majority — common in urban or college-town settings.

The population of Arcata is well-educated. 55.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — above the national average. The community is primarily White (71.63%).

Arcata, CA offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within California. Spread across 2 ZIP codes, the city's neighborhoods vary in character, density, and demographics — explore each ZIP code below for a detailed breakdown.

ZIP Codes in Arcata
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
95521 21,684 $54,324 $478,600 $1,300 12.2% 55.6% 36.7%