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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Isla Vista

California · 20,395 residents · 0.551 sq mi
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The short version

Isla Vista has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $14,215. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $232,100. At a median age of 21.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 60% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 21.0
US median: 33.0
More educated
53% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 7%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
20,395
+11%vs 2000
vs 18,344 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Median age
21.0
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 21.1 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K17K21K25K29K1990201020202024Isla Vista
202414K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 52.3%(477)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 91.5%(309)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 141.1%(220)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 1927.8%(5,671)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2449.7%(10,132)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 349.4%(1,926)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 444.1%(840)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 541.4%(277)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 640.7%(139)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 740.7%(138)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 840.6%(117)
US avg: 4%
85 and over0.7%(149)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$14,215
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $16,151 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$6,007
−21%vs 2000
vs $7,644 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
58.3%
−4.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 62.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$232,100
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $327,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$644
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $842 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
3.3%
−1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.6% in 2000
96.7% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic78.3%(15,963)
Black2.5%(517)
Hispanic / Latino14.8%(3,015)
Asian12%(2,443)
Other7.2%(1,472)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican15.5%(2,158)
Salvadoran1.8%(244)
Spaniard0.9%(129)
Argentine0.3%(44)
Guatemalan0.2%(34)
Peruvian0.2%(31)
Chilean0.2%(30)
Honduran0.1%(19)
Costa Rican0.1%(10)
Colombian0.1%(10)
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data
Asian origin
Chinese5.3%(744)
Asian Indian2.7%(379)
Filipino1.9%(270)
Korean1.4%(195)
Vietnamese1.1%(159)
Japanese0.5%(70)
Taiwanese0.5%(69)
Indonesian0.3%(43)
Nepalese0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.1%(14)
Samoan0.1%(10)
Ancestry
German9.7%(1,353)
Italian7.4%(1,033)
Irish6.3%(883)
English5.3%(734)
Swedish3.1%(428)
Arab1.7%(239)
Russian1.6%(224)
Iranian1.6%(216)
Polish1.5%(207)
Dutch1.4%(193)
Scottish1.2%(165)
Slovene1%(140)
+ 33 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1%(134)
Canadian0.9%(126)
British0.9%(120)
Armenian0.8%(114)
American0.7%(96)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(82)
Lebanese0.5%(71)
French0.5%(68)
Swiss0.4%(61)
Portuguese0.4%(49)
Austrian0.3%(44)
Australian0.3%(39)
Moroccan0.3%(38)
Egyptian0.3%(36)
Czech0.3%(36)
Ukrainian0.3%(35)
Danish0.2%(33)
Ethiopian0.2%(33)
Welsh0.2%(31)
Croatian0.2%(22)
Syrian0.2%(21)
Israeli0.1%(19)
Greek0.1%(16)
Lithuanian0.1%(16)
Belgian0.1%(14)
Romanian0.1%(14)
Hungarian0.1%(11)
West Indian0.1%(10)
Slovak0%(4)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Italian population · Largest Irish population · Largest Chinese population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
52.9%
+13.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 39.5% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
87.5%
+11.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 75.7% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
32.6%
+9.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 22.8% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.4 min
+40%vs 2000
vs 9.6 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married91.8%(5,870)
Married6.1%(388)
Widowed0.3%(18)
Divorced1.8%(117)
Women 15+
Never married94.9%(7,002)
Married3.3%(247)
Widowed0.6%(45)
Divorced1.1%(84)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Compare Isla Vista to nearby cities

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Home value$452,900+95%
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ISLA VISTA VS
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ISLA VISTA VS
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Home value$1,361,700+487%
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ISLA VISTA VS
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Home value$1,570,800+577%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Isla Vista, California?

Isla Vista, California has about 20,395 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Isla Vista, California earns about $14,215 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 $232,100, and the typical rent is about $644 a month.

How educated are people in Isla Vista, California?

About 52.9% 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 58.3% of people in Isla Vista, California live below the federal poverty line.

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

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