2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Arcata, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Arcata?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 12.2 years older than in Arcata.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Arcata?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 243.3% more expensive than Arcata housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Arcata?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 0.1 minutes longer than it is for residents of Arcata.

Things to do in Arcata?
Nestled on California’s North Coast just south of Eureka, Arcata offers visitors an array of natural beauty from redwood forests to rugged coastline along with world-class dining experiences like the Alice Copper Restaurant & Brewery. The city hosts a variety of cultural attractions year round from art galleries to live music venues making it a great destination for everyone.

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Arcata, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$39,069  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$444,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.03  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Arcata    17 Reviews

Pros: Nature hikes Cons: One of highest crime rates in the nation. Opioid epidemic going on (you’ll regularly witness drug deals and ppl doing drugs) No  More

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It takes a special set of preferences to select Arcata. Is this you? - You love clouds and fog. You are happy if you see the sun maybe 10-20 times a year. - Chilly  More

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Over 11 years ago

I've lived in Humboldt for over 30 yrs and know all the areas well. Arcata is the jewel of Humboldt due to having a university and many liberal creative people. There is  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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