r/Humboldt • • Apr 01 '25

Moving to Humboldt Preempting all future "Should I Move to Humboldt?" Posts

449 Upvotes
  • Yes, it really is beautiful here.
  • There are a myriad of communities and organizations here, if you're willing and able to reach out, you won't be lonely for long.
    • Our Queer community has been growing and thriving in the last few years.
    • Churches of all denominations abound.
    • There is one Synagogue in Eureka, and a Chabad House in Arcata.
  • Temperatures on the coast are very mild, it rarely if ever dips past freezing in winter and almost never hops over 85º in the summer. Inland gets a lot colder, and a loooot hotter.
    • Climate change has made the rainy season unpredictable. We have weeks of rain interspersed with weeks of sun.
  • We're in California - natural disasters are expected.
    • Earthquakes! There have been a couple of large ones in the last few years - the epicenters were near Petrolia, towards the south-west part of the county.
      • Large swaths of the coast are a Tsunami Zone.
    • Fire! For the most part, fires happen inland, where things are hotter and dryer. Due to terrain and ecology, the coast is generally protected, but it's not an impossibility.
      • Air quality can get pretty bad all over the county during fire season.
  • Generally the central part of the county - Eureka and Arcata - is liberal, the further away you get from there, on average, the more conservative things get.
    • That being said, our federal rep, Huffman, is a dem, and our state reps are also both dems.
  • The housing market is tough, just like the rest of the state. If you're planning to buy, that gives you a little more flexibility. If you're planning on renting, pickings are slim.
    • General advice for renters: find a place that meets your basic needs and take it. Once you're more settled you can keep an eye out for better options.
    • General advice for buyers: Don't purchase land sight-unseen.
    • Landlords around here are not very pet friendly. A fair number of the property management companies have breed restrictions.
  • Employment is a rough one. There is little to no industry in the area, due to the decline of logging and weed legalization. If you can, try to secure a job before moving.
    • Here is a list of the largest employers in the area.
    • The county and cities maintain their own job listing sites, as do most of the tribes.
    • Lost Coast Outpost, a local news org, also runs job listings.
    • Ironically(?), large numbers of employers in the area require clean drug tests - including marijuana.
  • Reports on the lack of healthcare are not exaggerated. We have a hard time hiring and retaining providers across the board, and there has been an increasing reliance on telehealth.
    • The largest PCP in the area, Open Door, is an FQHC with some ability to take private insurance, and their waitlists are miles long.
    • St. Joes is the largest hospital in the area, and they have some specialist services, but waitlists are also long and generally require a PCP referral, even if your insurance does not.
    • The VA here only provides basic services, and shuttles patients down to SF for anything beyond that.
    • On the whole, if you require specialist services, you will probably have to travel out of the area. The next closest services are a 3-4 hours drive.
  • As with many other parts of the state, we have a large number unhoused/transient people here, although perhaps disproportionate given the size of the whole population. This is due to a multitude of factors, and it is not a homogenous group.
    • The university does not have enough student housing, and there is an overall housing shortage, leaving many students out in the rain. (see: the above section on housing)
    • Traditionally, the weed industry has filtered people in and out seasonally, however, as that sector declines, there has been a reduction in numbers on that front. (See: the above section on employment)
    • Just as anywhere, we have our issues with addiction and mental health disorders, exacerbated by a lack of available resources. (See: the above section on healthcare)
  • Buying stuff: It’s doable, but don’t expect the same kind of variety you’re used to.
    • Lots of smaller, locally owned businesses to choose from.
    • We have a Costco, a Target, and a tiiiiny Walmart.
    • Locally owned hardware and Ace franchises only, HD & Lowe’s are persona non grata.
    • (Possibly excessive) Local and chain grocery options, including Asian and Mexican specialty markets.
    • Arcata has a year round farmers market on Saturdays.
    • Amazon Prime does not uphold 2 day shipping here.
  • Food options are good, but limited.
    • We specialize in Sushi, Mexican, and Pizza restaurants.
    • Salsa is served in syrup bottles.
    • There is one Indian restaurant (it’s excellent), a handful of Thai spots, and one Korean fusion place.
    • Food trucks have been gaining traction in recent years which has added some more variety.
  • Everything closes by 9. Even places that don’t make sense to not be open.
    • Except Toni’s. Chocolate malts and burgers are available whenever your heart desires.
  • Travel to and from the area is inconvenient.
    • The closest "larger" metropolitan areas are Grants Pass/Medford, Redding, and Santa Rosa.
      • Coincidentally those are also the nearest Trader Joes locations.
    • The SF Bay Area is a 5+ hour drive. Portland is a 7+ hour drive.
    • Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) is serviced by United Airlines, Breeze, and Alaska Airlines.
      • United flies direct to SF, LA, and Denver.
      • Breeze flies direct to Burbank, Las Vegas, and Provo.
      • Alaska flies to Seattle.
      • Flights are frequently delayed due to fog. Give the Wiki page on the airport a read sometime if you want know why.
    • The next closest airports are in Santa Rosa, Redding, and Medford. They're also small, but offer slightly different, and sometimes cheaper, direct flights.
    • Amtrak runs a bus service to Martinez, which then connects to other trains and busses.
    • The county runs the Redwood Coast Express, which goes between Eureka and Ukiah.
    • There is decent public transit, people can and do live here without a car.

Humboldt is a beautiful place full of amazing people. To anyone who decides it's worth it, Welcome Aboard. To anyone who decides it's not for them, fair enough.

Residents, let me know if I missed anything!

If you have specific questions about moving to Humboldt, or something that isn’t covered in this post, please create a separate post instead of replying in the comments here.


r/Humboldt • • 1h ago

Help/Needing Info Looking for beneficial/predatory nematodes

• Upvotes

Hey y’all, does anyone know where I could buy predatory nematodes for houseplant fungal gnats locally? Thanks!


r/Humboldt • • 2h ago

Misc./Other arcata drivers beware!

4 Upvotes

old sky blue vw van seen speeding down LKWOOD. the car was swerving in and out of the bike lane and incoming traffic lane to pass up the four cars that driving were on the road.


r/Humboldt • • 7h ago

Local News/Politics Letter Writer Follows Fortuna’s Money Ahead of Measure D Vote

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11 Upvotes

When my last letter ran, my inbox and the Facebook threads filled up. Thank you. Why is the police department paid so much? Where does the money go? So… I went and dug. 

First, you should know where I started: my last letter argued against Measure D as written. Personally, I don’t think it’s a viable solution, only a temporary fix. This one isn’t a “vote yes” or “vote no” letter. I want you to have the facts. And we’ve been here before. In 2024, Measure P asked for the same 0.75% sales tax and lost, 42.5% to 57.5% (North Coast Journal). A poll done for the city this year found 46% in favor and 51% against, with a 7% margin of error (Lost Coast Outpost). Measure D is on the ballot, so here’s what you’re deciding. 


r/Humboldt • • 3h ago

Help/Needing Info Who can change a broken tail light?

2 Upvotes

I have a brake light out on my truck and would like to get it replaced quickly. Where can I go? Oil Stop told me they don’t provide that service. Help


r/Humboldt • • 8h ago

Help/Needing Info good piercing recs!

5 Upvotes

I’m looking to get a new piercing soon (specifically collarbone dermals) and I have no clue about where is a good place to go that’s reliable but not extremely overpriced (or underpriced, lol). What places have you guys had good experiences at?? This will be my first body piercing too!


r/Humboldt • • 11h ago

Misc./Other Local game devs/aspiring game devs

8 Upvotes

Looking for other people in the area who are aspiring to be or already are working with video game development.
I just started working with Unreal Engine and would love to work together with some other like minded people. Maybe even start a project together.
Hit me up!


r/Humboldt • • 6h ago

Misc./Other Residential Solar in Humboldt

3 Upvotes

We recently got our residential solar system installed and functional. So, I'm now looking for folks to chat about actual details, operations, optimizations here in Humboldt under our practical conditions with the area, PG&E, & RCEA. I've asked my neighborhoods about their own solar installs, but most of them have no interest or only a vague idea about their own installs. So I thought I'd try here.

Our system is a roof-mounted (20 panels) grid-connected Sol-Ark 15k with Pytes batteries (32 kwh). We got PTO last month and everything seems to be working fine so far. I was able to export during the 6-8PM blocks during September and now have disabled battery exports until next fall. I have delusions of getting Home Assistant connected to the inverter, but I'm not very motivated into getting the hardware and software configurations setup. My specific interests are reducing the risks from the system and improving ROI.

From conversations with the installer, there are dozens of people similar setups every year, so I'd imagine the odds are pretty good at least some of them are on the subreddit. So, anyone out there interesting in sharing their observation and experiences?


r/Humboldt • • 4h ago

Review/Recommendation Laptop hardware repair shop recommendations?

1 Upvotes

I have a Dell Latitude 5420 that recently stopped working, and after moderate research and trouble shooting I'm pretty sure it's a hardware/motherboard related problem. I'm looking for a place (hopefully not super expensive) where I can pay to have my computer diagnosed and most likely also repaired. I'm aware of a few different places just from searching Google and other Reddit Posts, but would really like people's personal recommendations, like which place stands out and why? Thanks!


r/Humboldt • • 22h ago

Misc./Other lost earring. long shot

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25 Upvotes

i lost the one of these earrings over the weekend in old town eureka. i would love to get it back. 🙏


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Local Art/Photography College cove trail photos

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83 Upvotes

Was looking for the sacred chair, but instead got these cool photos


r/Humboldt • • 16h ago

Help/Needing Info Lowest-priced pumpkins

2 Upvotes

Let me know where you have found pumpkins for a great price. Small pumpkins are best. They are for event decor and not for eating so organic is not required.. Need before Saturday. Located in N McKinleyville but open to drive to pick up. Thank you.


r/Humboldt • • 22h ago

Local News/Politics Power Outage

6 Upvotes

What’s up with the PSPS power outage?

Seems like only California major cities from Sacramento through Redding are under PSPS for wind but it’s 3 mph yet.


r/Humboldt • • 22h ago

Help/Needing Info House cleaner

5 Upvotes

I can’t keep up! Best house cleaner with estimated rates pretty please. :)


r/Humboldt • • 2d ago

Misc./Other This county is incredible.

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530 Upvotes

Easterner here. Just stopping by to say; what an insanely beautiful piece of country Humboldt county is. My family visited early this year and I haven’t stopped
Thinking about it since. Eureka, arcata, Trinidad, Garberville, ferndale. Just all wonderful places, and wonderful people. Can’t wait to come back and experience more.


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Help/Needing Info Cheap cider?

3 Upvotes

So I am hoping to try my hand at making some apple cider and was wondering if anybody knows where I might get a few cheap gallons of cider?

Is my best bet winco or are there any orchards up here that are worth a trip?


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Questions about Moving Elk river corridor flooding question

5 Upvotes

Hi all, I'm interested in a house in this specific area of the Elk River corridor. My spouse and I work in McKinleyville and are worried about getting out during the floods.

Anyone live in or grew up around here and could speak to how often the road out (looks like Berta's the only option) floods, how long it lasts, and if there's any other way out?

Thanks so much.


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Help/Needing Info Woodridge apartments hot water?

8 Upvotes

Does anyone else who lives at woodridge apartments just not have hot water? This is the second time in a month we haven’t had hot water available. Last time it took them a week and a half to even acknowledge it and send someone to fix it. And I know it’s not just our apartments issue as I have a friend who lives upstairs in a separate unit that also is missing hot water. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this. We’ve been calling daily to barely any response.

Edit edit: we r on day 3 btw. This started on Monday and the only response we got is they sent a plumber yesterday.(10/13/26)


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Misc./Other In need of plastic hangers

1 Upvotes

If anyone has any extra and need to get rid of them please DM me
I would really appreciate it!
Thank you kindly


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Misc./Other is this your wrench tool? Found in Arcata

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5 Upvotes

Drove over the train tracks this morning in Arcata along Samoa and this wrench lodged itself into the undercarriage of my car lol. I pulled it out and see it’s engraved with 7981. If you want it back… it’s yours (just please secure it better next time) 🙏 happy Wednesday Humboldt


r/Humboldt • • 2d ago

Local News/Politics The Cal Poly Humboldt chapter of Turning Point USA is currently tabling in the Art Quad and holding debates. Students report that they have been spreading hate speech. “Transgenderism is a mental illness” -Ryley Neimei

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77 Upvotes

r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Life in Humboldt meeting people

21 Upvotes

well this is the lamest thing i’ve ever posted on the internet but how the hell do you meet people as a young person not in school here? i’ve been around for about a year and have a handful of sorta friends but idk i just can’t find people i really click with. admittedly idk if im going the right places for meeting anyone and i work a lot. but jeez i feel like such a loser


r/Humboldt • • 23h ago

Help/Needing Info Sketchy out-of-state unmarked Leo

0 Upvotes

Do ice vehicles have license plates that start with 1 like other governmental agencies?

Got stuck behind an out of state suv on the 299 today. They had a Georgia or Florida plate (hard to tell), driving a brand new and shiny suv with a license plate that starts with 1 and had no visible registration tag. They seemed unfamiliar with the 299. No markings, shiny black, couldn’t tell if they had lights on the inside or not.


r/Humboldt • • 2d ago

Events/Stuff to Do Costume contests?

9 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

My fiance and I are having so much fun making our costumes this year.

Does anyone know whether there’s any costume contests happening anywhere this Halloween?


r/Humboldt • • 1d ago

Life in Humboldt A 360° Turn at Sunset: Wind, Sand & Solitude 🎧 | Clam Beach #clambeach #...

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4 Upvotes

Shot this on October 12 at Clam Beach. The wind was whipping cold sand across the tidal flats right as the sun broke through into gold.

A continuous 360° turn in the cold evening wind, with the raw sound of the shore (best with headphones). Hope you enjoy a quiet minute from our coast.

Max