2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Seaside, CA vs Arcata, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Arcata older or younger than people in Seaside?
- The Median Age in Arcata is 7.0 years younger than in Seaside.

Are housing costs cheaper in Arcata or Seaside?
- Arcata housing costs are 38.7% less expensive than Seaside housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Arcata or Seaside?
- The average commute for residents of Arcata is 3.3 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Seaside.

Things to do in Seaside?
Seaside CA is located on California’s northern coast near Monterey Bay offering stunning views of nature combined with family friendly attractions from art galleries to pier strolling.

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.

 Seaside, CAArcata, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,038329,725,481
 Median Income$74,140  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock26.938.4
 Avg. Home Price$725,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.7%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time20.32  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Seaside    4 Reviews

Over 4 years ago

I’ve lived in Seaside for the past 20 years and I love it. I’m a fourth generation Monterey Bay family. Seaside hands down has the best views in the Monterey Bay. It’s a  More

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Over 15 years ago

Housing in Seaside is more affordable than it was, mainly due to the bursting of the housing bubble. There are still problems, though, mainly because of the huge number  More

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Over 19 years ago

unless you went to grad school, or are already rich, don't expect to be able to get a nice house here. You'll be house-poor(not able to afford anything outside of your  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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