ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 95521

Part of Arcata, CA

Pop. 21,980·Humboldt County·872nd most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$1,582/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.9%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$350

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 95521 · $1,582

More affordable than 67% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,160

1 BR

$1,240

2 BR

$1,620

3 BR

$2,250

4 BR+

$2,720

Research median

$1,620/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 95521 changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($53,114) is $1,328 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,240); a 2-bedroom is $1,620.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 95521. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,984/yr

At $1,582/mo median

Location

CityArcata

StateCA

CountyHumboldt County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.9% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 95521 (Arcata, CA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 46.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,980

Median income

$53,114

Median age

29.2

Renters

59.8%

Age distribution

14%

44%

18.6%

14.7%

Under 1814%

18–3444%

35–5418.6%

55–648.7%

65+14.7%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

73.6%

15.4%

White73.6%

Black3%

Hispanic15.4%

Asian1.3%

Other6.7%

Education (25+)

15.5%

33.2%

46.4%

No HS diploma4.9%

HS diploma15.5%

Some college33.2%

Bachelor's+46.4%

Housing tenure

40.2%

59.8%

Owner40.2%

Renter59.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 95521 in Arcata, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$43,520 → $53,114

up 22.0%

Population

22,259 → 21,980

down 1.3%

Renter share

62.2% → 59.8%

-2.4 pts

Bachelor's+

46.5% → 46.4%

-0.1 pts

Median age

28.4 → 29.2

+0.8 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $43,520 to $53,114 across the same window, up 22.0% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 95521 in Arcata, CA losing about 279 residents over the five-year window, down 1.3% on net. The renter share has eased from 62.2% to 59.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 95521

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 95521 covers Arcata, CA. The median rent here is $1,582/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,240/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,620/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($53,114/yr), ZIP 95521 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 95521?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,582/mo in ZIP 95521. The local median household income is $53,114/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 95521?

Rent in ZIP 95521 has risen 1.9% over the past year.

How does ZIP 95521 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 95521 is one of the more affordable among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #872 of 898 at $1,582/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 95521 changed +1.9%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.