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Arcata, CA

Name: Arcata, CA
Rating: 3.5

Population: 17,775

Key findings

Arcata has a Livability Score of 64_/100, which is considered below average
Arcata crime rates are 48% higher than the California average
Cost of living in Arcata is 12% lower than the California average
Arcata real estate prices are 21% lower than the California average
Rental prices in Arcata are 32% lower than the California average

Best Places to Live in and Around Arcata

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Compare Arcata, CA Livability

What do the locals think about Arcata?

44%Family friendly 44%Public transit is accessible 81%Walkable to grocery stores 19%Yards are well-kept 75%Lots of parks 81%Walkable to restaurants 25%Friendly neighbors 25%Safe at night 38%Pet friendly 50%Streets have sidewalks 38%A quiet area 56%Sense of community

Based on 16 votes from AreaVibes users. See all Arcata poll results.

Arcata Real estate & Rental prices

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Arcata Demographics

Population17,775 Median Age24.8 Have Kids (under 18)42%

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Top Rated Schools in Arcata

Name	Grades	Students	Proficiency
Mad River Montessori	PK - KG	6	n/a
Arcata High	9 - 12	889	n/a
Trillium Charter	KG - 5	45	n/a
Laurel Tree Charter	KG - 12	124	n/a
Six Rivers Charter High	9 - 12	98	n/a
Arcata Christian School	KG - 8	50	n/a
Union Street Charter	KG - 5	101	n/a
Fuente Nueva Charter	KG - 5	122	n/a

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Arcata Reviews

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College town in an enchanted forest with enlightened citizens

Attractions8/10

Community8/10

Nightlife7/10

Dining7/10

Shopping6/10

Strikingly beautiful nature (without the car jams of Big Sur) surround this enlighted, tolerant forward-living community. Arcata is about 300 miles from any city (Portand OR to the north and San Fran south) so it is the community center for all the surrounding old growth forest communities. This feels like the epicenter of environmental health. Humboldt State University is in the forefront of Environmentalism and the people who are drawn here are natural born stewards of environmental leadership. I find it like a mini european village full of tolerance and quality of life connected to nature. The weather in Arcata is mild and a bit cool and foggy year round but 10 minutes inland towards the amazing Trinity Alps you get warm sunny summers and snowy winters. Town square has everything a traditional college town would have including two cinemas, co-op groceries, pubs, shops, park, vegetarian options are plentiful. Up the road 20 minutes is College Cove Beach where lush ferns under a canopy of towering redwoods on waterfall cliffs meet the Pacific ocean. Slugs are big and yellow, clothing is optional, hair is plentiful and drums accompany the waves. Activities abound in and near Arcata: River camping on the mad river, watching the salmon at the hatchery, seeing theater at the University, visiting Victorian village of Ferndale, having a lumberjack meal at the Samoa Cookhouse, "city stuff" in Eureka, watching the Kinetic Sculpture race, dubbed the "Triathlon of the Art World." where homemade machines tackle mud, sand, water, gravel and pavement to the finish line, and my favorite affordable retreat in a private outdoor wooden hottub in a finnish forest atmosphere at the Finnish Country Sauna & Tubs. This is a lush paradise for people who love living in a tolerant community of nature lovers. Peace!

7 -3

Source: The Arcata, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the 2016 United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).