Santa Barbara, California
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Santa Barbara.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara planning snapshot: population 87,291, housing index 327 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $1,466,400, median rent $2,302, and income near $101,672. Expect 73°F summer highs, 42°F winter lows, and about 18-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 436.1 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 327U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $1,466,400U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $2,302U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $101,672U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.5%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 18 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 436.1per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 73°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Santa Barbara compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 87,291City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $101,672Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year29% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 327ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year227% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $1,466,400City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year383% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $2,302City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year71% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.5%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 18 min28% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 5522% above U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 436.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)26% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2309.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)25% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 73°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals14.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 42°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 17.3 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals48% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 326As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals22% above U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Santa Barbara declined 1.3% from 88,468 in 2010 to 87,291 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Santa Barbara expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Compared with the U.S. average, Santa Barbara runs 227 points higher on MapsToIt's ACS housing index. Use that single number as a quick filter, then dig into home and rent cells for the budget you actually need.
- Housing cost index 327 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $1,466,400 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $2,302 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Santa Barbara?
Budget first around $2,302/month rent or $1,466,400 purchase prices — both are MapsToIt ACS medians, not listing ask averages. National ACS medians are $1,348 rent and $303,400 home value for context.
- Median home value $1,466,400
- Median rent $2,302/month
- Median household income $101,672
What is the job market like in Santa Barbara?
Labor-market context for Santa Barbara: unemployment 4.5% and median income $101,672. Those are BLS LAUS (county) and ACS figures — industry mix still matters more than the headline rate alone.
- Unemployment 4.5% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $101,672
How long is the typical commute in Santa Barbara?
Plan on roughly 18 minutes each way in Santa Barbara. Walk Score estimates around 55 shape how car-dependent daily errands feel. Compare that with the 25-minute catalog average before you lock a neighborhood.
- 18 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 55/100
Is Santa Barbara safer than similar U.S. cities?
Santa Barbara's FBI-derived violent rate (~436.1/100k) sits below the average of mapped MapsToIt cities. Use the figure as a screening signal, then verify the blocks you would actually live on.
- Violent 436.1 per 100k
- Property 2309.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara's climate profile: 73°F summer peaks, 42°F winter mornings, 17.3" annual rainfall, and 326 sunny days — from the nearest NOAA normals station.
- Summer high 73°F
- Winter low 42°F
- 17.3 in rain · 326 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Santa Barbara?
Downtown is the name relocators hear first; compare it with Funk Zone and Mesa once you know your job location.
- Downtown
- Funk Zone
- Mesa
Pacific weather, wildfire seasons, and housing scarcity dominate relocation tradeoffs. Roughly 326 sunny days a year give outdoor routines unusual calendar reliability. Average one-way commute time is about 18 minutes, and Walk Score estimates land around 55/100. Labor-market readings near 4.5% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates near 436.1 per 100k sit in a mid-to-elevated band versus many peer cities in this catalog.
Relocators eyeing Santa Barbara, California will find roughly 87,291 residents within city limits. With median income around $101,672 and a cost index of 327, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $1,466,400 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Downtown draws the first wave of relocators; Funk Zone and Mesa tend to show up once people trade vibe for school or parking tradeoffs. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Santa Barbara with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Downtown
- Funk Zone
- Mesa
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Santa Barbara city, 1600000US0669070) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Santa Barbara County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023190 SANTA BARBARA MUNI AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10