Signals
Arcata
McKinleyville
Opportunity
35 · Bottom 11%
vs42 · Bottom 21%
Climate
70 · Bottom 48%
vs70 · Bottom 48%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 20%
vs25 · Bottom 20%
Housing affordability
20 · Bottom 1%
vs52 · Bottom 11%
Access
0 · Bottom 1%
vs2 · Bottom 1%
Economic stability
39 · Bottom 16%
vs43 · Bottom 21%
Measured values
| Metric | Arcata | McKinleyville | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,607 | 17,113 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $46,713 | $73,327 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $32,307 | $36,859 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,976/sq mi | 820/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $484,600 | $457,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,327 | $1,607 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 36.4% | 62.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.2% | -2.2% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.3% | 38.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 27.2% | 14.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 63°F | 63°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 41°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 40.4" | 46.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 122 mi | 116 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 28.1 | 41.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 11 | 6 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.86 | 19.54 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 50.2% | 52.8% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Arcata
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
McKinleyville
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Your best match
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Arcata
32
Your Score
34
Area Score
McKinleyville
39
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Arcata, CA · McKinleyville, CA · How this is calculated: methodology