Santa Ynez, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Ynez is a small community located in California, within Santa Barbara County. The total population is 4,467. It ranks as the 686th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Ynez is 37.8 years. This is about the same as the state median of 37.9 years. 11.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Ynez is $110,781. This is 12% higher than the state median of $99,122. It is also 37% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 13.0%. This is 8% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.8%. This is 88% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $1,163,000. Housing costs are 58% higher than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 64.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Ynez is White (non-Hispanic), making up 75.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (75.9% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (19.8%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (1.0%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

33.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Ynez, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.