CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2000 CENSUS

Santa Barbara County

California · 399,347 residents · 2,733.941 sq mi
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The short version

Santa Barbara County has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $46,677. Population has held roughly steady since 1990. Median home value is $264,100.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 33.4
US median: 35.2
More educated
29% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 20%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
399,347
+8%since 1990
from 369,608 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
146 / sq mi
+8%since 1990
from 135 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
33.4
+5%since 1990
from 31.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
362K385K409K433K456K1990201020202024Santa Barbara County
2024444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$46,677
−1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $35,677 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$23,059
+34%since 1990
from $17,155 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
14.3%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 12.8% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$264,100
−20%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $249,200 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$830
−4%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $654 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
56.1%
+1.3 ptssince 1990
from 54.7% in 1990
43.9% rent
Afford Score
5.7
−19%since 1990
from 7.0 in 1990
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Barbara County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic77.2%(285,411)
Black2.7%(10,162)
Hispanic / Latino26.3%(97,084)
Asian4.5%(16,554)
Diversity Score70.7%(261,412)
2000
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(227,083)
Black2.1%(8,385)
Hispanic / Latino34.2%(136,668)
Asian3.9%(15,713)
Diversity Score66.4%(265,027)
Diversity Score
66
−6%since 1990
from 71 in 1990
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.4%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 26.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
79.2%
−0.8 ptssince 1990
from 80.0% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
11.4%
+1.4 ptssince 1990
from 10.0% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.5 min
−26%since 1990
from 18.2 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Drill deeper

Places similar to Santa Barbara County

Monterey County
Pop 433,729
Solano County
Pop 455,376
Orange County
Pop 417,669
Richmond County
Pop 501,290
Places similar to Santa Barbara County
Head to head

Compare Santa Barbara County to nearby counties

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
Ventura County
Income$109,797+135%
Home value$822,700+212%
Population830,851+88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
San Luis Obispo County
Income$97,446+109%
Home value$824,700+212%
Population282,367−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
Kern County
Income$70,210+50%
Home value$338,300+28%
Population927,068+110%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
Los Angeles County
Income$90,112+93%
Home value$834,200+216%
Population9,694,934+2093%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Santa Barbara County, California?

Santa Barbara County, California has about 399,347 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Santa Barbara County, California?

The typical household in Santa Barbara County, California earns about $46,677 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Santa Barbara County, California expensive?

In Santa Barbara County, California, the median home is worth about $264,100, and the typical rent is about $830 a month.

How educated are people in Santa Barbara County, California?

About 29.4% of adults age 25 and over in Santa Barbara County, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Santa Barbara County, California?

About 14.3% of people in Santa Barbara County, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Santa Barbara County, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Santa Barbara County, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 29,739 residents, a change of about 8 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

109 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 24.09Census Tract 29.33Census Tract 28.02Census Tract 20.08Census Tract 23.04Census Tract 28.08Census Tract 22.10Census Tract 7Census Tract 25.04Census Tract 20.14Census Tract 9803Census Tract 30.01Census Tract 16.01Census Tract 29.24Census Tract 21.03Census Tract 27.06Census Tract 20.11Census Tract 23.03Census Tract 22.11Census Tract 1.01
24 ZIP codes
ZIP 93458ZIP 93436ZIP 93117ZIP 93455ZIP 93454ZIP 93101ZIP 93105ZIP 93103ZIP 93111ZIP 93013ZIP 93110ZIP 93108ZIP 93109ZIP 93434ZIP 93463ZIP 93460ZIP 93427ZIP 93106ZIP 93437ZIP 93440ZIP 93441ZIP 93067ZIP 93254ZIP 93429
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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