With 4,467 people, Santa Ynez is a city in California. The typical home is worth $1,163,000, having more than doubled since 2000. Few US cities rank higher on income. The median household earns $110,781, about 35% above the national median. Renters pay $1,969 a month at the median. Density works out to 925 people per square mile.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $110,781, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 37.8
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 50%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Santa Ynez
What changed most since 1990
Homes owned by their occupants83.5% → 64.9%(−18.6 pts)US over the same years: +0.9 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree29.1% → 33.4%(+4.3 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Poverty rate4.1% → 13.0%(+8.8 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
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)10.1%(15)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)50%(74)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era20.9%(31)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 148 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
Santa Ynez, decade by decade
Santa Ynez 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
4,200
$124,076
$817,943
29.1%
21.9
2000
4,584
$146,250
$777,482
38.9%
29.7
2010
4,418
$141,002
$1,197,610
36.6%
44.8
2020
4,505
$120,415
$1,043,687
25.7%
47.9
2024
4,467
$110,781
$1,163,000
33.4%
48.0
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.
