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Arcata, CA
Full City Profile · California · Humboldt County County
2.3
/5.0
C
Fair
18,578
Population
1,972/sq mi density
$48,731
Median Income
$30,772 per capita
$466,600
Home Value
$488,248 Zillow
$1,287
Median Rent
38.6% income on rent
53°F
Avg Temperature
275 sunny days/yr
393
Violent Crime/100K
3,300 property/100K
C
Overall
2.3 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.5 / 5.0
$48,731 median income, 8.5% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.2 / 5.0
$466,600 home value, $1,287/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
393 violent crimes/100K (3% above avg)
A+
Education
4.6 / 5.0
45.1% bachelor's degree or higher
Arcata experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (12°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July. The area gets 275 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 40.4 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)
58°F Jul (14°C)
| Annual Average | 52.6°F |
| 3% below US avg | |
| January Average | 48°F (9°C) |
| July Average | 58°F (14°C) |
| Sunny Days | 275 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Area | 11.0 sq mi (28.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,972/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 40.8623°N, 124.0750°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Humboldt County County |
| Nearest Airport | Redding Regional (RDD) 96 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0303 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 3.1 ppb |
| SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide) | 0.31 ppb |
| CO (Carbon Monoxide) | 0.23 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 10.4 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 74.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 56.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | Relatively High |
| Volcano | No Rating |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.1 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1873 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 3.1 m | — | 127 km |
| 1992 | CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.8 m | — | 59 km |
| 2024 | CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 97 km |
| 1994 | N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 145 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Shasta (169 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Shasta | Stratovolcano | 4,317 m (14,163 ft) | 1250 | 169 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48°F (9°C) | 7.4 in | |
| February | 48°F (9°C) | 6.5 in | |
| March | 49°F (10°C) | 6.5 in | |
| April | 51°F (11°C) | 3.4 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 1.9 in | |
| June | 58°F (14°C) | 0.8 in | |
| July | 58°F (14°C) | 0.2 in | Driest |
| August | 61°F (16°C) | 0.6 in | Warmest |
| September | 60°F (15°C) | 1.2 in | |
| October | 56°F (13°C) | 3.4 in | |
| November | 50°F (10°C) | 7.6 in | |
| December | 46°F (8°C) | 8.1 in | Coldest, Wettest |
Arcata has a seasonal temperature swing of 14°F / from 46°F in December to 61°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 47.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (8.1") and July the driest (0.2").