At a Glance
Median Income
$101,672
$62,921 per capita
Home Value
$1,466,400
Zillow: $1,824,406
Median Rent
$2,302/mo
32.9% of income on rent
Violent Crime
644/100K
1,841/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
50.2%
88.9% high school+
Unemployment
4.7%
6.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
26.4%
10.3% smoking rate
How Santa Barbara Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Santa Barbara's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Santa Barbara a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Santa Barbara residents earn a median household income of $101,672 , which is 35% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $62,921. The unemployment rate stands at 4.7% (31% 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 Santa Barbara is $1,466,400 , 420% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,824,406. Median rent is $2,302/month, with 32.9% 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 1964.
Safety & Crime
Santa Barbara reports 644 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 69% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,841/100K. The murder rate is 1.2/100K.
Education
50.2% of adults in Santa Barbara hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(49% above the national average).
88.9% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.5/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Santa Barbara has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 57°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 19.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 50.
Data Overview
People
Population88,024
Median Age39.4 yrs
Density4,516/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born20.4%
Veterans3.8%
Economy
A+
Median Income$101,672
Per Capita$62,921
Unemployment4.7%
Poverty6.7%
County GDP$69,606M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,356
Housing
F
Home Value$1,466,400
Rent$2,302
Ownership39.8%
Zillow$1,824,406
Housing Units38,678
Rent Burden32.9%
Crime
F
Violent644/100K
Property1,841/100K
Murder1.2/100K
Assault485/100K
Burglary171/100K
Health
Obesity26.4%
Diabetes9.1%
Smoking10.3%
Heart Disease4.8%
Premature Death5,626/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Rain19.0 in/yr
AQI50 (Good)
Elevation384 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+50.2%
High School+88.9%
Graduate+21.0%
School Score4.5/10
Community
2024 VoteR 41% / D 56%
Commute17 min
Broadband93.7%
Internet Speed131 Mbps
EV Stations114
Libraries24
Did You Know?
Santa Barbara was founded in 1847.
The median home in Santa Barbara was built in 1964.
17.0% work from home.
The nearest airport is Santa Barbara Municipal (5 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.450 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
11.2% of the population has a disability.
20.4% 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.