At a Glance
Median Income
$24,428
$13,289 per capita
Home Value
$1,241,700
Zillow: $1,480,803
Median Rent
$1,856/mo
51.0% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
40.8%
90.6% high school+
Unemployment
17.1%
6.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
38.2%
23.5% smoking rate
How Isla Vista Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Isla Vista's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Isla Vista a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.5 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Isla Vista residents earn a median household income of $24,428 , which is 67% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $13,289. The unemployment rate stands at 17.1% (375% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 6.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 31,435 business establishments, including 1,758 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Isla Vista is $1,241,700 , 340% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,480,803. Median rent is $1,856/month, with 51.0% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1975.
Education
40.8% of adults in Isla Vista hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(21% above the national average).
90.6% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.8/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Isla Vista has an average annual temperature of 58°F (15°C).
Winters average 53°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 19.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 50.
Data Overview
People
Population13,717
Median Age21.2 yrs
Density24,940/mi²
Male / Female44% / 56%
Foreign Born11.7%
Veterans0.8%
Economy
C
Median Income$24,428
Per Capita$13,289
Unemployment17.1%
Poverty6.7%
County GDP$69,606M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,356
Housing
F
Home Value$1,241,700
Rent$1,856
Ownership1.0%
Zillow$1,480,803
Housing Units5,229
Rent Burden51.0%
Health
Obesity38.2%
Diabetes18.9%
Smoking23.5%
Heart Disease10.0%
Premature Death5,626/100K
Climate
Avg Temp58°F
Rain19.0 in/yr
AQI50 (Good)
Elevation46 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+40.8%
High School+90.6%
Graduate+24.8%
School Score4.8/10
Community
2024 VoteR 41% / D 56%
Commute16 min
Broadband88.0%
Internet Speed131 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries24
Did You Know?
The median home in Isla Vista was built in 1975.
The nearest airport is Santa Barbara Municipal (4 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.450 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
7.9% of the population has a disability.
11.7% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 131 Mbps.
There are 1,758 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 51 fatal vehicle crashes.
637 declared natural disasters on record.