City profile
Arcata, CA
Humboldt County · Population 18,607
Arcata is a town in Humboldt County, CA with about 18,607 residents and a typical home value near $485,000. It is 209 miles from Sacramento, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
43°F
Summer avg
74°F
Sunny days / yr
265
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$484,600
Typical monthly housing
$2,919
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
121
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 97/100
Top hazards: Landslide, Earthquake, Wildfire
Nearest major airport
200 mi to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 62% Democratic / 34% Republican
Community
Population
18,607
Black population
3.5%
County
Humboldt County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 18,607 residents
- Typical home value about $485,000
- 209 miles from Sacramento, CA
Trade-offs
- Smaller community with fewer local amenities
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.