United States › California › Isla Vista CITY · 2020 ACS
Isla Vista California · 15,500 residents · 0.55 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
With 15,500 people, Isla Vista is a city in California. This skews young, with a median age of 21.4. The poverty rate is 70.9%, above the 12.8% national rate. 2% of homes are owner-occupied. People stay put here: 24% were in the same home a year ago. That trails the California median by roughly 73%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 21.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Renter-heavy
2% owner-occupied
US average: 63%
Section 01
Population & growth from 21.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
12K 17K 21K 25K 29K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Isla Vista Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $21,018
−13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $16,151 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $7,644 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 16.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 62.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Arts, entertainment, food 2.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.3%
Transportation & warehousing 0.8%
Public administration 0.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.6%
Education & health services 0%
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$1,662
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $842 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 4.6% in 2000
98.1% rent
from 2.86 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 61.7%(11,326)
Hispanic / Latino 20%(3,671)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 42%(6,513)
Hispanic / Latino 27.3%(4,239)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 3 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data from 39.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 75.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 22.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 9.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 44.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.2% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 54.8% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 16.5% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 91.8%(5,870)
Women 15+
Never married 94.9%(7,002)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 7.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 38%(19)
Share of the 50 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Isla Vista Head to head
Compare Isla Vista to nearby cities ISLA VISTA VS
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ISLA VISTA VS
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ISLA VISTA VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Isla Vista, California? Isla Vista, California has about 15,500 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Isla Vista, California? The typical household in Isla Vista, California earns about $21,018 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Isla Vista, California expensive? In Isla Vista, California, the typical rent is about $1,662 a month.
How educated are people in Isla Vista, California? About 41.9% 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 70.9% 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 4,895 residents, a change of about -24 percent over that period.
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