Updated: 2025-10-25
Life in Santa Barbara County research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Santa Barbara County over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Santa Barbara County:
The population in Santa Barbara County is 443,975.
The median home value in Santa Barbara County is $973,381.
The median income in Santa Barbara County is $95,977.
The median rent in Santa Barbara County is $2,050.
The unemployment rate in Santa Barbara County is 6.1%.
The poverty rate in Santa Barbara County is 13.8%.
The average high in Santa Barbara County is 64.9° and there are 40.7 inches of rainfall annually.
The average high in Santa Barbara County is 64.9°.
There are 99.57 nice days each year.
Expect an average of 40.7 inches of rain each year with 0.0 inches of snow.
There is an average of 8:30 hours of sun each day in Santa Barbara County.
| Stat | Santa Barbara County |
|---|---|
| Mean High | 64.9 |
| Nice Days | 99.57 |
| Rainfall | 40.7 |
| Snowfall | 0.0 |
| Sunny Hours | 8:30 |
The current population in Santa Barbara County is 443,975. The population has increased 0.6% from 2019.
| Year | Population | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 447,651 | 0.6% |
| 2022 | 444,895 | 0.0% |
| 2021 | 444,829 | - |
Santa Barbara County is 49.8% female with 221,296 female residents.
Santa Barbara County is 50.2% male with 222,678 male residents.
| Gender | Santa Barbara County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 49.8% | 50.0% | 50.5% |
| Male | 50.2% | 50.0% | 49.5% |
Santa Barbara County is:
41.5% White with 184,336 White residents.
1.5% African American with 6,832 African American residents.
0.2% American Indian with 1,020 American Indian residents.
5.1% Asian with 22,846 Asian residents.
0.1% Hawaiian with 382 Hawaiian residents.
0.4% Other with 1,714 Other residents.
3.5% Two Or More with 15,433 Two Or More residents.
47.6% Hispanic with 211,412 Hispanic residents.
| Race | Santa Barbara County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 41.5% | 34.6% | 58.2% |
| African American | 1.5% | 5.3% | 12.0% |
| American Indian | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 5.1% | 15.1% | 5.7% |
| Hawaiian | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Two Or More | 3.5% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Hispanic | 47.6% | 39.8% | 19.0% |
4.5% of households in Santa Barbara County earn Less than $10,000.
3.0% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $10,000 to $14,999.
4.8% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $15,000 to $24,999.
5.1% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $25,000 to $34,999.
9.0% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $35,000 to $49,999.
13.6% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $50,000 to $74,999.
11.8% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $75,000 to $99,999.
18.1% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $100,000 to $149,999.
11.4% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $150,000 to $199,999.
18.7% of households in Santa Barbara County earn $200,000 or more.
| Income | Santa Barbara County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.9% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.6% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 6.6% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 5.1% | 5.5% | 6.8% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 9.0% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 13.6% | 13.3% | 15.7% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 11.8% | 11.8% | 12.7% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 18.1% | 17.9% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 11.4% | 11.1% | 9.3% |
| $200,000 or more | 18.7% | 19.4% | 12.6% |
10.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed < 9th grade.
6.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed 9-12th grade.
17.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed high school / ged.
21.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed some college.
9.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed associate's degree.
22.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed bachelor's degree.
9.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed master's degree.
3.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed professional degree.
3.0% of adults in Santa Barbara County completed doctorate degree.
| Education | Santa Barbara County | CA | USA |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 9th Grade | 10% | 7% | 5% |
| 9-12th Grade | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| High School / GED | 17% | 20% | 26% |
| Some College | 21% | 20% | 19% |
| Associate's Degree | 9% | 8% | 9% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 22% | 22% | 21% |
| Master's Degree | 9% | 10% | 10% |
| Professional Degree | 3% | 3% | 2% |
| Doctorate Degree | 3% | 2% | 2% |
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