Santa Paula city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Paula city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 31,202. It ranks as the 262nd most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Paula city is 35.2 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 37.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Paula city is $77,130. This is 20% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 2% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.3%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 5% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $559,300. Housing costs are 20% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 53.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Paula city is Hispanic or Latino, making up 80.6% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 14.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (14.6%) is well below the state average of 34.6%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (80.6% vs 39.8%). The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 15.0%.

Education

14.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% lower 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 64.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Paula 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.