Santa Barbara, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Santa Barbara | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 82,698 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2208.3 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.35% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 36.5 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 33,995 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Santa Barbara grew by 31.3% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 82,905 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Santa Barbara has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Santa Barbara | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $101,202 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.95% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.8% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Santa Barbara is about 5% higher than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Santa Barbara | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,481,958 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $2,286 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 39.4% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Santa Barbara is about 54.0 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $2,286 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Santa Barbara spend about 30 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 126 hours, about 5.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Santa Barbara | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.1 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 30.2 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 126 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,903 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 26,328 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,592 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Santa Barbara is 15 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Santa Barbara has a education index of A, which means it is very educated.
| Metric | Santa Barbara | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.7% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.36 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
Santa Barbara has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Santa Barbara | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.0 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 13.2% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 10.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Santa Barbara, California.
What is the population of Santa Barbara, California?
The population of Santa Barbara, California is 82,698, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Santa Barbara, California?
The population density of Santa Barbara, California is 2208.3 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Santa Barbara, California?
The median household income in Santa Barbara, California is $101,202, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Santa Barbara, California?
The median home price in Santa Barbara, California is $1,481,958, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Santa Barbara, California?
The unemployment rate in Santa Barbara, California is 4.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.