Goleta, CA vs Isla Vista, CA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricGoleta, CAIsla Vista, CA
Population32,68513,920
Median Household Income$122,370$25,972
Median Rent$2,437/mo$1,878/mo
Median Home Value$1,062,100—
Cost of Living (US = 100)109109
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income45.9%84.7%
Poverty Rate9.3%70.4%
Unemployment Rate3.1%4.8% (county)
Violent Crime Rate /100k206216*
Property Crime Rate /100k1,161690*
Median AQI5252
Good AQI Days /yr164164
Summer Highs73°F73°F
Winter Lows42°F42°F
Snowfall0 in/yr0 in/yr
Avg Commute17.8 min15.6 min
Hospitals1—
Avg Hospital Rating5.0 / 5—
Students per Teacher2120.6
College Degree Rate49.4%43.7%
Foreign-Born %23%10.2%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-0.9%—

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.
* Rate of the agency that polices Isla Vista (the city has no police department of its own), so it isn’t scored.