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COUNTY · 2010 ACS

Santa Barbara County

California · 423,895 residents · 2,733.941 sq mi
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The short version

Santa Barbara County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $60,078. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $576,500.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Younger
median age 33.6
US median: 37.2
More educated
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Less affordable
home values up 72%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
423,895
+6%since 2000
from 399,347 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
155 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 146 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
33.6
+1%since 2000
from 33.4 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
362K385K409K433K456K1990201020202024Santa Barbara County
2024444K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,078
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,677 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,731
+29%since 2000
from $23,059 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
39.2%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
14.3%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 14.3% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.475
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Information9.8%
US avg: 11.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing8.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 10.9%
Construction7.8%
US avg: 1.4%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 7.2%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 7%
Public administration2.9%
US avg: 4.9%
Finance & insurance2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 3.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.1%
US avg: 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical2.1%
US avg: 4.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$576,500
+72%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $264,100 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,265
+20%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $830 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
37.9%
−18.2 ptssince 2000
from 56.1% in 2000
47.3% rent
Vacancy rate
6.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
40.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 41.0% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.6%
−1.6 ptssince 2009
from 56.2% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
9.6
+70%since 2000
from 5.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Barbara County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic56.9%(227,083)
Black2.1%(8,385)
Hispanic / Latino34.2%(136,668)
Asian3.9%(15,713)
Other0%
Diversity Score66.4%(265,027)
2010
White, non-Hispanic47.9%(203,122)
Black1.7%(7,242)
Hispanic / Latino42.9%(181,687)
Asian4.6%(19,591)
Other2.7%(11,508)
Diversity Score72.8%(308,407)
Diversity Score
73
+10%since 2000
from 66 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.0%
+1.6 ptssince 2000
from 29.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
80.1%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 79.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
12.4%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 11.4% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.5 min
+45%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
65.8%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 66.4% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
15.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.2% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
3.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
5.8%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.7% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
4.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
3.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 3.6% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.2% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.1% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
34.8%
−28.4 ptssince 2009
from 63.1% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Female
49.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Foreign born
23.7%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 22.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
8.8%
−41.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+83%
Home value$822,700+43%
Population830,851+88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
San Luis Obispo County
Income$97,446+62%
Home value$824,700+43%
Population282,367−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
Kern County
Income$70,210+17%
Home value$338,300−41%
Population927,068+110%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VS
Los Angeles County
Income$90,112+50%
Home value$834,200+45%
Population9,694,934+2093%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Santa Barbara County, California?

Santa Barbara County, California has about 423,895 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Santa Barbara County, California earns about $60,078 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 $576,500, and the typical rent is about $1,265 a month.

How educated are people in Santa Barbara County, California?

About 31.0% 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 54,287 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

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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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