Santa Barbara County, California Income Statistics
Santa Barbara County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Santa Barbara County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Santa Barbara County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $98,304 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $62,131 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 16.0% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 20.0% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Santa Barbara County is about 1% lower than in California. Income has been growing slower in Santa Barbara County (5.2%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 16% of adults in Santa Barbara County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Santa Barbara County, California grew by 65.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $98,304 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Santa Barbara County
| Metric | Santa Barbara County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.577 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,590 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $63,271 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.1% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Santa Barbara County, it is 0.577, about the same as California's 0.572, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in Santa Barbara County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $221,165 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Santa Barbara County, California has narrowed from about 14% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2014, and was narrowest at 7% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $359 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Santa Barbara County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.4% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 14,118 people are unemployed in Santa Barbara County, California.
The average commute time in Santa Barbara County is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Santa Barbara County, California has fallen from 8.2% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.7% in 2020.
Santa Barbara County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Santa Barbara County, CA is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 443,693 residents against a local median of 836,943. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest counties, which makes Santa Barbara County, CA an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is unemployment, 13% below the local median at 6.3% against 7.3%. Santa Barbara County, CA has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara County, CA | 443,693 | $98,304 #2/6 | 5.2%/yr #4/6 | 6.3% #3/6 | 0.577 #3/6 |
| Ventura County, CA | 836,943 | $110,868 | 4.3%/yr | 5.7% | 0.557 |
| San Luis Obispo County, CA | 281,514 | $97,610 | 5.3%/yr | 5.5% | 0.557 |
| Kern County, CA | 915,060 | $70,255 | 4.4%/yr | 8.6% | 0.605 |
| Kings County, CA | 153,298 | $71,135 | 5.3%/yr | 9.9% | 0.615 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 9,796,997 | $90,339 | 5.6%/yr | 7.3% | 0.581 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Santa Barbara County, California has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with California, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Santa Barbara County, California.
How Rich Is Santa Barbara County, California?
Santa Barbara County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $98,304, about 1% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Santa Barbara County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Santa Barbara County, California rose 66%, from $59,359 to $98,304. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +66% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Santa Barbara County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Santa Barbara County, California was $96,211, up 4% from $92,486 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Santa Barbara County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Santa Barbara County, California was $79,206. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $98,304.
What is the Gini coefficient in Santa Barbara County, California?
The Gini coefficient in Santa Barbara County is 0.577. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Santa Barbara County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Santa Barbara County, California has narrowed from about 14% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2014, and was narrowest at 7% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $359 since 2009.
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