Livability Score

67
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities A+

There are lots of amenities close to this location.
Coffee (9) F
Coffee Break
Coffee Shop
The Big Blue Cafe
Coffee Shop
Jitter Bean Coffee Co.
Coffee Shop
Cafe Phoenix
Coffee Shop
Northtown Coffee
Coffee Shop
The Depot
Coffee Shop
Beachcomber Cafe
Coffee Shop
Mosgo's
Coffee Shop
Jitter Bean Coffee Co
Coffee Shop
Entertainment (11) A+
Phillips House Museum
Museum
redowwd Park Outdoor Stage Area
Theatre Arts
Arcata Theater Lounge
Cinema
Arcata Artisans
Art Gallery
Natural History Museum
Museum
John Van Duzer Theatre
Theatre Arts
Redwood Bowl
Stadium
Charles Fulkerson Recital Hall
Theatre Arts
Arcata Playhouse
Theatre Arts
Outer Space Arcata
Theatre Arts
Food and Drink (25) D-
Papa Murphy's
Fast Food
Hole in the Wall
Fast Food
Sidelines Sports Bar
Bar
Toby and Jack's
Bar
Everett's Club
Bar
Arcata Liquors
Alcohol
Don’s Donuts & Deli
Fast Food
Richards' Goat Tavern & Tea Room
Bar
Cook N Sugar Candy and Kitchen
Sweets
Humbrews
Bar
Arcata Scoop
Fast Food
Big Pete's Pizzaria
Fast Food
Stars
Fast Food
Redwood Yogurt
Fast Food
The Hutch
Alcohol
Dutchy's Pizza
Fast Food
The Pub at The Creamery
Bar
Subway
Fast Food
Wolf Dawg Eatery
Fast Food
Philly Cheese Steak
Fast Food
Carl's Jr.
Fast Food
McDonald's
Fast Food
Subway
Fast Food
Liquor Still
Alcohol
Fitness (5) A+
Arcata Community Center
Community Centre
Health Sport
Gym
Redwood Lounge
Community Centre
Redwood Lodge
Community Centre
D Street Neighborhood Center
Community Centre
Groceries (7) C-
Murphy's Market
Grocery Store
Safeway
Grocery Store
4th Street Market
Grocery Store
Wildberries Marketplace
Grocery Store
North Coast Co-op
Grocery Store
Murphy's
Grocery Store
Ray's Food Place
Grocery Store
Parks (42) A+
Arcata Community Park
Playground
Arcata Community Park & Sports Complex
Park
Redwood Park
Park
Sunny Brae Park
Park
Redwood Park
Park
D Street Linear Park
Park
Rotary Park
Park
Veterans Memorial Park
Park
D Street Linear Park
Park
Arcata Plaza
Park
Vinum Park
Park
Stewart Park
Park
Arcata Skateboard Park
Park
Larson Park
Park
Shay Park
Park
Bloomfield Park
Park
Westwood Manor Park
Park
Cahill Park
Park
Windsong Park
Park
Westwood Manor Park
Park
Greenview Park
Park
Mountain View Park
Park
Janes Creek Meadows Park
Park
Ennes
Playground
Ennes Park Expansion
Park
Shops (56) A+
Ace Hardware
Home Improvement
AT&T
Electronics
Arcata Pet Supply
Pets
U.S. Cellular
Electronics
Plaza Design
Furniture
Plaza Shoe Shop
Shoes
Heart Bead
Fashion
Solutions
Clothing
Delilah's
Hairdresser
Humboldt Outfitters
Clothing
Hot Knots
Clothing
Moor's Sleep World
Furniture
All Under Heaven
Gift Shop
Fabric Temtations
Fabric
Willow & Rags
Clothing
Ric's
Hairdresser
Natural Selection
Fashion
Panache Hair Salon
Hairdresser
Bluegrass Barber
Hairdresser
Renaissance Computing
Electronics
Marshland Studio
Furniture
Arcata Exchange
Furniture
Simply Macintosh
Electronics
Caravan of Dreams
Gift Shop
Sacred Empire
Clothing
See more Arcata amenity data

commute F

Of all people who commute, 3.3% take public transportation in Arcata.
Public Transit Stops (3)
Stops & Stations
F
Arcata Transit Center
Bus Station
Workers Taking Public Transit
3.3%
F
See more Arcata commute data

cost of living F

The cost of living in Arcata is 128/100 - which is 8% lower than California.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
F
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
F
See more Arcata cost of living data

crime F

Arcata crime rates are 3,432 per 100k, which is 21% higher than California
Property Crime
2,805 crimes per 100k
F
Violent Crime
627 crimes per 100k
F
See more Arcata crime data

employment F

The median income in Arcata is $38,603 - which is 39% lower than California.
Med. Household Income
$38,603
F
Unemployment Rate
9.7%
F
See more Arcata employment data

health A+

There are many hospitals, police and fire stations.
Health & Safety (8)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
B+
CVS Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Arcata Police Department
Police
Arcata Fire Station
Fire Station
Humboldt Open Door Clinic
Clinic
Humboldt University Police
Police
North Country Clinic
Clinic
Mad River Community Hospital
Hospital
Mad River Fire Station
Fire Station
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
A+
See more Arcata health & safety data

housing C-

Arcata home prices are $356,800 - which is 13% lower than California
Home Price
$356,800
A+
Home Appreciation Rate
10%
B+
Home Affordability
9.2x (home price to income ratio)
F
See more Arcata housing data

schools A-

The Arcata graduation rate is 91% - which is 14% higher than California
School Test Scores
55%
D
High School Grad. Rates
91%
A-
Elementary Schools (18) A+
Northcoast Preparatory And Performing Arts Academy
Union Street Charter
Union Street Charter
Sunny Brae Middle
Mad River Montessori
Arcata Christian School
Jacoby Creek
Northcoast Preparatory And Performing Arts Academy
Arcata Elementary
Coastal Grove Charter
Coastal Grove Charter
Fuente Nueva Charter
Fuente Nueva Charter
Trillium Charter
Humboldt Bay Christian School
Pacific Union Elementary
Laurel Tree Charter
Laurel Tree Charter
Six Rivers Montessori
High Schools (7) C-
Northcoast Preparatory And Performing Arts Academy
Pacific Coast High (Continuation)
Six Rivers Charter High
Arcata High
Northcoast Preparatory And Performing Arts Academy
Laurel Tree Charter
Laurel Tree Charter
See more Arcata education data

ratings D+

Arcata has an overall rating of 59% from 18 reviews.
User Reviews (2)
From AreaVibes
D
User Surveys (16)
From AreaVibes
C+
See more Arcata user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
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( 18 Ratings )

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Arcata Reviews

Write a review about Arcata Tell people what you like or don't like about Arcata…
Isolated, fight tooth and nail for healthcare 1 rating By Anonymous ( Apr 24, 2023) I would not move here if you ever need to see a doctor or a vet.

Most doctors are not taking new patients and the ones that are have a 6+ month wait list. Same applies to dentists just to get a standard cleaning/check up. Same applies to vets if you have a pet.

Arcata is just
...Read More very very isolated. The only highway in or out is the 101. The nearest cities (outside of eureka) are literal hours away. SF is a 6 hour drive. Eugene is 5. Portland is 7.

The local airport is very limited and extremely expensive. It’s almost a thousand dollars cheaper to drive 6 hours to Sacramento and fly from there then it is to fly from Arcata.

The isolation also drives the prices of everything way up because the cost of imports are sky high due to how difficult it is to get in and out.

The crime is obviously bad but that’s every city on the planet so there’s no need to dig into that. At least there’s not a lot of gun violence.

The local community is alright. There’s a nice farmers market every Saturday and the local climate makes it so that there’s a lot to choose from year round.

Unfortunately, housing is completely dismal. Most of the rentals are Airbnbs where you pay up to $2000 for what’s worse than a studio apt. And that’s if you can find housing at all. If you move here, have something long term lined up first, if possible. Otherwise you’ll spend thousands on airbnbs every month until you finally find an apartment.

There’s not really many attractions in the area outside of hiking. Obviously there’s tons in the way of hiking. There’s a lot of beautiful parks around in every direction. But besides that, there’s honestly not that much to do. Recreation is very limited.

The food is also awful. There are a few decent diners, Mexican restaurants, and breakfast spots but if you’ve had good food in other cities… keep your expectations tempered. There’s not much to choose from, it’s all very expensive, and honestly not good at all for the price.

Almost every business is closed at 5:00pm daily and closed completely on Sundays so if you work m-f 9-5, you have to get everything done on saturdays. Not a big deal but it can be really annoying.

In short: I love the hiking but that is the only real positive. Read Less
College town in an enchanted forest with enlightened citizens 4.5 rating By chongkwang ( Jun 07, 2011) 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 c ...Read More ommunities. 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! Read Less
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Compare Arcata, CA Livability

      vs

      A+ Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Arcata? Yes, there are lots of amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      Arcata Community Park
      Arcata Community Park & Sports Complex
      Redwood Park
      Sunny Brae Park
      Redwood Park
      D Street Linear Park
      Rotary Park
      Veterans Memorial Park

      Entertainment

      Phillips House Museum
      redowwd Park Outdoor Stage Area
      Arcata Theater Lounge
      Arcata Artisans
      Natural History Museum
      John Van Duzer Theatre
      Redwood Bowl
      Charles Fulkerson Recital Hall

      Food & Drink

      Papa Murphy's
      Hole in the Wall
      Sidelines Sports Bar
      Toby and Jack's
      Everett's Club
      Arcata Liquors
      Don’s Donuts & Deli
      Richards' Goat Tavern & Tea Room

      C- Commute

      Is public transit available in Arcata? Of all people who commute, 3.3% take public transportation in Arcata.
      Drive to Work
      57%

      19% lower than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      3%

      2% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      15%

      12% higher than the US average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is Arcata a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Mad River Community Hospital

      Pharmacies

      CVS Pharmacy

      Doctors