2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Long Beach, CA vs Arcata, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Arcata older or younger than people in Long Beach?
- The Median Age in Arcata is 9.0 years younger than in Long Beach.

Are housing costs cheaper in Arcata or Long Beach?
- Arcata housing costs are 40.0% less expensive than Long Beach housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Arcata or Long Beach?
- The average commute for residents of Arcata is 13.3 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Long Beach.

Things to do in Long Beach?
Long Beach, California makes for an ideal destination for beach lovers, boasting miles of gorgeous coastline. Visitors can spend the day in the sand or enjoy a variety of outdoor activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The city also offers numerous cultural attractions such as the Long Beach Museum of Art and aquarium, plus plenty of shopping destinations downtown and along Shoreline Drive. In addition to its beaches, Long Beach has a lively nightlife filled with bars and clubs, making it a great choice for those who want to experience all that this vibrant city has to offer.

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.

 Long Beach, CAArcata, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,038329,725,481
 Median Income$71,150  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$739,900  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time30.36  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Long Beach    45 Reviews

Local born and bred. This place is going down the drain. Crime is up, housing is up, yuppies finding nothing wrong with it since they want to validate spending 3k on a 2  More

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Angelique · 
Over 5 years ago

I love Long Beach. I especially shoreline village and the aquarium of the pacific. The only big problem here (for me) is crime. Otherwise, nice  More

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Over 7 years ago

The cost of living is extremely high and there are way too many apartments or multi unit homes which have no parking. But with everyone living on top of each other it  More

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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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