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CITY

Isla Vista

California · 13,920 residents · 0.551 sq mi
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Part of the Santa Maria metro area
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Notable rankings
#5Fastest shrinkingof 6,642-32.9%#41Youngest by median ageof 6,82621.2#144Most expensive homesof 6,786$1,218,800#318Shortest commutesof 6,82615.6
The short version

Isla Vista has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $25,972. Population has fallen 24% since 2000, a loss of 4,424 residents. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $1,218,800. At a median age of 21.2, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. The poverty rate of 70.4% is well above the national figure. It falls in the bottom 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
13,920
−24%since 2000
from 18,344 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Population density
25,263 / sq mi
−24%since 2000
from 33,292 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
21.2
Unchangedsince 2000
from 21.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K17K21K25K29K1990201020202024Isla Vista
202414K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$25,972
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,151 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$14,110
+85%since 2000
from $7,644 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
13.4%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
70.4%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 62.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.538
+3%since 2010
from 0.522 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.5%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade4.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance2.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Wholesale trade2.1%
US avg: 6.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0.8%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration0.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,218,800
+104%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $327,600 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,878
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $842 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
1.2%
−3.4 ptssince 2000
from 4.6% in 2000
98.8% rent
Vacancy rate
10.5%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
62.1%
+34.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.8% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
84.7%
+12.4 ptssince 2009
from 72.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
46.9
+131%since 2000
from 20.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
36
RELATED:See current rent listings in Isla Vista on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic61.7%(11,326)
Black1.9%(341)
Hispanic / Latino20%(3,671)
Asian11.4%(2,087)
Other0%
Diversity Score64.8%(11,887)
2024
White, non-Hispanic54.5%(7,584)
Black4.6%(645)
Hispanic / Latino20.4%(2,834)
Asian15.6%(2,173)
Other4.9%(684)
Diversity Score79.1%(11,010)
Diversity Score
79
+22%since 2000
from 65 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.7%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 39.5% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
91.3%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
22.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.6 min
+63%since 2000
from 9.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
50.0%
+5.2 ptssince 2009
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
3.2%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.8%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.4%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 7.3% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
19.3%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
12.8%
−10.9 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
14.6%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
17.4%
+3.2 ptssince 2011
from 14.2% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
59.4%
+4.6 ptssince 2011
from 54.8% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.3%
−9.0 ptssince 2009
from 24.3% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
34.0%
−29.7 ptssince 2009
from 63.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.5%
−3.9 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
53.5%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
10.2%
−6.3 ptssince 2009
from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
0.4%
−50.6 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2012
from 4.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.6%
−88.3 ptssince 2013
from 92.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.7%
+11.9 ptssince 2017
from 76.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
72.9%
+10.4 ptssince 2016
from 62.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
12.8%
−3.9 ptssince 2016
from 16.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Isla Vista to nearby cities

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Income$69,327+167%
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ISLA VISTA VS
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ISLA VISTA VS
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Home value$1,361,700+12%
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ISLA VISTA VS
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Income$106,182+309%
Home value$1,570,800+29%
Population86,422+521%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Isla Vista, California?

Isla Vista, California has about 13,920 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Isla Vista, California?

The typical household in Isla Vista, California earns about $25,972 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Isla Vista, California expensive?

In Isla Vista, California, the median home is worth about $1,218,800, and the typical rent is about $1,878 a month.

How educated are people in Isla Vista, California?

About 43.7% of adults age 25 and over in Isla Vista, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Isla Vista, California?

About 70.4% of people in Isla Vista, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Isla Vista, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Isla Vista, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 6,475 residents, a change of about -32 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →