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Living in
University of California-Santa Barbara.
University of California-Santa Barbara 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 University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara is a community of 11,634 people in California. The median household income is $69,000, median rent runs about $1,512 per month, and median home values are around $452,600. The unemployment rate is 4.8%.
University of California-Santa Barbara at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
20.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.5%
Foreign-Born
20.6%
Broadband Internet
44.9%
of households
Median household income
Demographics20.6% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in University of California-Santa Barbara: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In University of California-Santa Barbara, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (34.2%), and 15.6% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
3.9%
of residents
65 and Older
0.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
22.3%
anyone under 18
Married Couples
41.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 25% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in University of California-Santa Barbara
In University of California-Santa Barbara, rent runs 25% below the CA average, and home values are 38% below the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,560
per year, owner-occupied homes
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.7 pts below CA average
Unemployment in University of California-Santa Barbara
Unemployment in Santa Barbara County, which includes University of California-Santa Barbara, is 0.7 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
University of California-Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Santa Barbara County (county-wide) · Annual averages
University of California-Santa Barbara is about 3% of Santa Barbara County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What University of California-Santa Barbara Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.3 min avg
How University of California-Santa Barbara residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In University of California-Santa Barbara, most residents commute another way to work (25%), and 94% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 1 mi
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)
Small hub740k passengers boarded in 2025
- 86 mi
Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
Medium hub3.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 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 University of California-Santa Barbara, 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 University of California-Santa Barbara, 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.
75 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Santa Barbara County, county-wide
University of California-Santa Barbara is about 3% of Santa Barbara County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality52 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Santa Barbara County, which includes University of California-Santa Barbara, 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
University of California-Santa Barbara is about 3% of Santa Barbara County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate73°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
University of California-Santa Barbara 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" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in University of California-Santa Barbara
Uninsured
1.5%
of residents
No hospitals inside University of California-Santa Barbara's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.4 mi away · Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County Psychiatric Health Facility
Psychiatric · 4.3 mi away · Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.1 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.
Education80.6% college degree rate
Schools and degree attainment in University of California-Santa Barbara
Public Schools
0
none inside city limits; students attend nearby district schools
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
80.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara
Public · 4-year · 23,113 students · in-state tuition $16,989 · 88% graduate · median earnings $82,568 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
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, 30 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for University of California-Santa Barbara
University of California-Santa Barbara has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Channel Islands National Park (30 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Channel Islands National Park
National Park
30 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
65 mi awayCésar E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
92 mi awayCities Near University of California-Santa Barbara
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to University of California-Santa Barbara?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
University of California-Santa Barbara FAQ
Is University of California-Santa Barbara, California affordable?⌄
University of California-Santa Barbara's median rent is $1,526/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $69,327/year. Median home value is $452,900.
Is University of California-Santa Barbara, California safe?⌄
University of California-Santa Barbara 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 University of California-Santa Barbara, California?⌄
Santa Barbara County, which includes University of California-Santa Barbara, has an unemployment rate of 4.8%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in University of California-Santa Barbara, California?⌄
The cost of living in University of California-Santa Barbara is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,526/month and median household income is $69,327/year. The median home value is $452,900. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in University of California-Santa Barbara, California?⌄
The average commute in University of California-Santa Barbara is 14 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