Isla Vista is a city of 13,920 people in California. The median age is 21.2, younger than the US median of 38.9. Home values have more than tripled since 2000, reaching $1,218,800. 70.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Owners hold 1% of the housing stock. 33% were living in the same home a year earlier.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $25,972, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 21.2
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 104%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Isla Vista
What changed most since 1990
Adults with a bachelor's degree52.9% → 43.7%(−9.2 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Population20,395 → 13,920(−32%)US over the same years: +35%
Poverty rate58.3% → 70.4%(+12.1 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Isla Vista's population equals 3.1% of Santa Barbara County's. Its number of veterans equals 0.3% of the county's. Its number of residents 65 and older equals 0.4% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)0%(0)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era54.5%(30)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II18.2%(10)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 55 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Isla Vista, decade by decade
Isla Vista population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
20,395
$34,117
$557,056
52.9%
58.3
2000
18,344
$29,422
$596,774
39.5%
70.4
2010
23,096
$43,282
$552,123
51.2%
76.9
2020
15,500
$25,475
–
41.9%
88.0
2024
13,920
$25,972
$1,218,800
43.7%
79.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
