Santa Barbara city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Barbara city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 88,024. It ranks as the 94th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Barbara city is 39.4 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Barbara city is $101,672. This is 6% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 29% higher. The poverty rate stands at 13.1%. This is 9% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.7%. This is 27% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,466,400. Housing costs are 111% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 14.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 39.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 29% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Barbara city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.4% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 36.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (53.4% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Asian population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

50.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.9%. Notably, 20.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Barbara city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.