At $1,582/mo, rent takes about 41% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,582 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Arcata changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($46,713) is $1,168 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,110); a 1-bedroom is $1,180.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Arcata. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Arcata, CA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 46.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Arcata, CA has changed in 5 years
Median household income rose from $39,069 to $46,713 between 2021 and 2024, a 19.6% shift. The population has contracted by 2.3% since 2021, moving from about 19,038 residents to roughly 18,607. Renters now make up 63.6% of households, compared with 66.5% five years ago.
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Can you afford rent in Arcata on your salary?
At $1,582/mo, how Arcata rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Arcata rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Arcata. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Arcata
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Arcata is $1,582/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,110/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,540/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,180/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,160/mo.
At 41% of local median household income ($46,713/yr), Arcata ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Arcata?
How does Arcata rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Arcata?
At $1,582/mo, rent takes ~41% of Arcata's median household income ($46,713/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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