Santa Barbara County, CA

County

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2024 Population

443,701

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

US Senator

Adam Schiff

Democratic Party

2024 Median Age

34.6

0.29% 1-year increase

2024 Poverty Rate

14.7%

7.03% 1-year increase

2024 Median Household Income

$98,161

2.28% 1-year growth

2024 Median Property Value

$790,700

7.48% 1-year growth

2024 Employed Population

205,874

0.533% 1-year decline

About

None of the households in Santa Barbara County, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

86.7% of the residents in Santa Barbara County, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Santa Barbara County, CA are University of California-Santa Barbara (8,030 degrees awarded in 2023), Santa Barbara City College (3,744 degrees), and Allan Hancock College (2,984 degrees).

In 2024, the median property value in Santa Barbara County, CA was $790,700, and the homeownership rate was 52.4%.

Most people in Santa Barbara County, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.8 minutes. The average car ownership in Santa Barbara County, CA was 2 cars per household.

Santa Barbara County, CA borders Kern County, CA, San Luis Obispo County, CA, and Ventura County, CA.

Photo by alex.lubbock

United States California Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Population & Diversity

Santa Barbara County, CA is home to a population of 444k people, from which 86.7% are citizens. As of 2024, 22.2% of Santa Barbara County, CA residents were born outside of the country (98.4k people).

In 2024, there were 1.84 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (180k people) in Santa Barbara County, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 97.9k Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) and 65.3k Other (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

86.7%

2024 Citizenship

86.6%

2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 86.7% of Santa Barbara County, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Santa Barbara County, CA was 86.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Santa Barbara County, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Santa Barbara County, CA

White (Non-Hispanic)
180k ± 602
Two Races Including Other (Hispanic)
97.9k ± 4.12k
Other (Hispanic)
65.3k ± 3.35k

48.2%

Hispanic Population

214k people

48.2% of the people in Santa Barbara County, CA are hispanic (214k people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Santa Barbara County, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
3,862,617 ± 45,816 people
Philippines
824,246 ± 22,054 people
China
687,951 ± 20,184 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 3,862,617 California residents, followed by Philippines with 824,246 and China with 687,951.

Foreign-Born Population

22.2%

2024 Foreign-Born Population

98.4k people

22.1%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

98.1k people

As of 2024, 22.2% of Santa Barbara County, CA residents (98.4k people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Santa Barbara County, CA was 22.1%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Santa Barbara County, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
6,072 ± 509
Gulf War (2001-)
3,160 ± 464
Gulf War (1990s)
1,941 ± 316

Santa Barbara County, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.92 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Santa Barbara County, CA.

Economy

The economy of Santa Barbara County, CA employs 206k people. In 2024, the largest industries in Santa Barbara County, CA were Health Care & Social Assistance (25,487 people), Educational Services (23,740 people), and Retail Trade (19,353 people), and the highest paying industries were Management of Companies & Enterprises ($110,976), Utilities ($105,268), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($99,317).

Employment

Occupations

206k

2024 Value

± 3,737

−0.533%

1 Year decline

± 2.57%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Santa Barbara County, CA declined at a rate of −0.533%, from 207k employees to 206k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Santa Barbara County, CA, are Management Occupations (23,148 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (18,099 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (16,774 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Santa Barbara County, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

Industries

Employment by Industries

206k

2024 Value

± 3,737

−0.533%

1 Year decline

± 2.57%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Santa Barbara County, CA declined at a rate of −0.533%, from 207k employees to 206k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Santa Barbara County, CA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (25,487 people), Educational Services (23,740 people), and Retail Trade (19,353 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Santa Barbara County, CA, though some of these residents may live in Santa Barbara County, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$52,265

Median earning men ± $1,319

$38,301

Median earning women ± $1,248

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Public Administration ($100,007), Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($93,283), and Information ($86,614).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Information ($68,986), Public Administration ($67,380), and Construction ($62,746).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Y-Axis

2.57%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 17.9M people employed in California. This represents a 2.57% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 14%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

Establishments by Size

The industries with the most establishments

1,089
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
779
Health Care and Social Assistance
749
Construction

The visualization shows the distribution of establishments by industry and by size according to the number of employees.

The visualization shows the number of establishments and its share across establishment sizes.

Payroll by Industry Sector

The industries with the highest total annual payroll

$1.59M
Health Care and Social Assistance
$1.31M
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
$1.06M
Manufacturing

The chart shows the total annual payroll and the average annual payroll by industry.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 52 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Santa Barbara County, CA. Showing the available data for California.

2024 Election Results

Kamala Harris (58.5%)
Democratic Party
Donald J. Trump (38.3%)
Republican Party
Robert Kennedy (1.25%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in California went to Kamala Harris with 58.5% of the vote. The runner-up was Donald J. Trump (38.3%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.25%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in California for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Alex Padilla

Senator from California

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.

Adam Schiff

Senator from California

Assumed office on December 8, 2024
Elected to the seat to succeed Laphonza Butler, who had been appointed to the seat following the death of Dianne Feinstein.

Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

Education

In 2023, universities in Santa Barbara County, CA awarded 16,192 degrees. The student population of Santa Barbara County, CA in 2023 is skewed towards women, with 23,587 male students and 30,201 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Santa Barbara County, CA are Hispanic or Latino (5,572 and 37.8%), White (5,519 and 37.4%), Asian (1,643 and 11.1%), and Two or More Races (1,093 and 7.41%).

The largest universities in Santa Barbara County, CA by number of degrees awarded are University of California-Santa Barbara (8,030 and 49.6%), Santa Barbara City College (3,744 and 23.1%), and Allan Hancock College (2,984 and 18.4%).

The most popular majors in Santa Barbara County, CA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (2,724 and 16.8%), Sociology (829 and 5.12%), and Econometrics & Quantitative Economics (718 and 4.43%).

The median tuition costs in Santa Barbara County, CA are $34,905 for private four year colleges, and $11,834 and $42,611 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2023 in Santa Barbara County, CA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 28.8%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 16.5%. The number of students enrolled in 2023 was 53,788 (43.9% men and 56.1% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2023 there were 53,788 students enrolled in Santa Barbara County, CA, 43.9% men and 56.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in Hispanic or Latino with 19,730 records, of which 59.6% were women and 40.4% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Communication
620 degrees awarded
Sociology
711 degrees awarded
Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
696 degrees awarded

In 2023, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Santa Barbara County, CA was General Communication with 620 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Santa Barbara County, CA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of California-Santa Barbara
8,030 degrees awarded
Santa Barbara City College
3,744 degrees awarded
Allan Hancock College
2,984 degrees awarded

In 2023, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of California-Santa Barbara with 8,030 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2023, 6,551 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Santa Barbara County, CA, which is 0.679 times less than the 9,641 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2023, the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was Hispanic or Latino students. These 5,572 degrees mean that there were 1.01 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, White, with 5,519 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($34,905) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2023.

Public, 4-year or above ($3,131) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2023.

Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above ($1,600) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Santa Barbara County, CA was $790,700 in 2024, which is 2.38 times larger than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $735,700 to $790,700, a 7.48% increase. The homeownership rate in Santa Barbara County, CA is 52.4%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Santa Barbara County, CA have an average commute time of 20.8 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Santa Barbara County, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

In 2025, 28.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Santa Barbara County, CA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.467%.

Housing

Property

$790,700

Median Property Value 2024

±$17,571

$78,344

Median Property Taxes

±$1,875

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Santa Barbara County, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Santa Barbara County, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

52.4%

Homeownership

2024

69%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2024

In 2024, 52.4% of the housing units in Santa Barbara County, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 52.9%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Santa Barbara County, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$98,161

Median Household Income

± $2,430

150k

Number of Households

± 3,003

In 2024, the median household income of the 150k households in Santa Barbara County, CA grew to $98,161 from the previous year's value of $95,977.

The following chart displays the households in Santa Barbara County, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Santa Barbara County, CA is from California.

0.495

2023 Wage GINI in California

0.498

2022 Wage GINI in California

In 2023, the income inequality in California was 0.495 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.573% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.476. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024

Drove Alone (64.7%)
Worked At Home (13.4%)
Carpooled (11.7%)

In 2024, 64.7% of workers in Santa Barbara County, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (13.4%) and those who carpooled to work (11.7%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.8 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Santa Barbara County, CA have a shorter commute time (20.8 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 1.51% of the workforce in Santa Barbara County, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Santa Barbara County, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Santa Barbara County, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Santa Barbara County, CA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Severe Housing Problems

In 2025, 28.3% of the population was living with severe housing problems in Santa Barbara County, CA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 0.467%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the population living with severe housing problems.

Poverty & Diversity

14.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Santa Barbara County, CA (62.4k out of 423k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Santa Barbara County, CA is Hispanic, followed by White and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Children in Poverty

In 2025, 17% of the children was living in poverty in Santa Barbara County, CA. From 2014 to 2025, the indicator declined 4.2%.

The graph shows the trend of the percentage of the children living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Security

Crimes & Accidents

Indicator

In 2022, the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population was 318 in Santa Barbara County, CA. From 2014 to 2022, the indicator declined 111 per 100,000 population.

The graph shows the trend in the number of reported violent crimes offenses per 100,000 population.

Health

91.3% of the population of Santa Barbara County, CA has health coverage, with 40.6% on employee plans, 23.6% on Medicaid, 11.7% on Medicare, 14.1% on non-group plans, and 1.25% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Santa Barbara County, CA see 1,305 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,305 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1093 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 150 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.6% were men and 50.4% were women.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,305 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Santa Barbara County, CA

Primary care physicians in Santa Barbara County, CA see an average of 1,305 patients per year. This represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,305 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Santa Barbara County, CA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 25.2% under 18 years, 25.4% between 18 and 34 years, 32.9% between 35 and 64 years, and 16.6% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 49.6% were men and 50.4% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.68%

Uninsured

40.6%

Employer Coverage

23.6%

Medicaid

11.7%

Medicare

14.1%

Non-Group

1.25%

Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Santa Barbara County, CA declined by 5.83% from 9.21% to 8.68%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Santa Barbara County, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Indicators

Health Outcomes

Indicator

In 2025, the number of deaths among residents under age 18 per 100,000 population was 41.9 in Santa Barbara County, CA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Santa Barbara County, CA.

Health Behaviors

Indicator

In 2025, the percentage of the adult population (age 18 and older) that reports a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (age-adjusted) was 31.6% in Santa Barbara County, CA.

The graphic shows the trend of the indicator in Santa Barbara County, CA.