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Living in
Eastern Goleta Valley.
Eastern Goleta Valley is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Eastern Goleta Valley
This is a genuinely affluent stretch of Santa Barbara County where you're paying top California prices but getting a real neighborhood feel rather than a tourist destination. The median home value sits around $1.2 million and median rent is nearly $3,000 a month, so financial comfort is pretty much a prerequisite. The upside is job stability—unemployment is low at 4.8%—and your commute is short at about 15 minutes, whether you're heading to Santa Barbara proper or staying local.
Eastern Goleta Valley at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
45.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.9%
Foreign-Born
16.1%
Broadband Internet
92.9%
of households
Median household income
Demographics16.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Eastern Goleta Valley: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Eastern Goleta Valley, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (31.1%), and 13.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.0%
of residents
65 and Older
24.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
21.8%
of households
Married Couples
60.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.66
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Eastern Goleta Valley
In Eastern Goleta Valley, rent runs 46% above the CA average, and home values are 85% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,847
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
74.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Eastern Goleta Valley
Unemployment in Santa Barbara County, which includes Eastern Goleta Valley, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Eastern Goleta Valley: Santa Barbara County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Santa Barbara County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Eastern Goleta Valley Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15.3 min avg
How Eastern Goleta Valley residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Eastern Goleta Valley, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 93% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)
Small hub740k passengers boarded in 2025
- 83 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 86 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 34% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, which covers Eastern Goleta Valley, runs 34% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
215.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
689.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Santa Barbara County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Santa Barbara County, which includes Eastern Goleta Valley, the most common type is high wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | High Wind | $2,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Flash Flood | $20,000 |
| 2023 | 18 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 3 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 4 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 2 | Flash Flood | $617.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
77 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Santa Barbara County, county-wide
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Santa Barbara County, which includes Eastern Goleta Valley, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
52
Good Days
164
per year
Moderate Days
201
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Santa Barbara County, county-wide
Climate73°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Eastern Goleta Valley has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
68°/49°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
17.3"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
5
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
39
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 41°F | 3.84" |
| Feb | 64°F | 44°F | 3.86" |
| Mar | 66°F | 46°F | 3.10" |
| Apr | 68°F | 48°F | 0.91" |
| May | 69°F | 51°F | 0.42" |
| Jun | 70°F | 55°F | 0.11" |
| Jul | 73°F | 58°F | 0.02" |
| Aug | 75°F | 58°F | 0.01" |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 73°F | 51°F | 0.73" |
| Nov | 69°F | 44°F | 1.27" |
| Dec | 64°F | 40°F | 2.91" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Eastern Goleta Valley
Eastern Goleta Valley has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.6%
of residents
Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 1.8 mi away · Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.7 mi away · Santa Barbara
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education19.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Eastern Goleta Valley
Eastern Goleta Valley's student/teacher ratio is 19.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 54.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
54.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Eastern Goleta Valley (within 15 miles)
University of California-Santa Barbara
4.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 23,113 students · in-state tuition $16,989 · 88% graduate · median earnings $82,568 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 9,889 students · in-state tuition $1,242 · 31% graduate · median earnings $53,616 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Channel Islands National Park, 33 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Eastern Goleta Valley
Eastern Goleta Valley has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Channel Islands National Park (33 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Channel Islands National Park
National Park
33 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
63 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
88 mi awayCities Near Eastern Goleta Valley
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Eastern Goleta Valley?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Eastern Goleta Valley FAQ
Is Eastern Goleta Valley, California affordable?⌄
Eastern Goleta Valley's median rent is $2,964/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $146,284/year. Median home value is $1,361,700.
Is Eastern Goleta Valley, California safe?⌄
Eastern Goleta Valley is policed by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 216 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 690 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Eastern Goleta Valley, California?⌄
Santa Barbara County, which includes Eastern Goleta Valley, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Eastern Goleta Valley, California?⌄
The cost of living in Eastern Goleta Valley is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,964/month and median household income is $146,284/year. The median home value is $1,361,700. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Eastern Goleta Valley, California?⌄
The average commute in Eastern Goleta Valley is 15 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from