University of California-Santa Barbara CDP, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

University of California-Santa Barbara CDP is a small city located in California. The total population is 11,634. It ranks as the 456th most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in University of California-Santa Barbara CDP is 19.9 years. This is 47% lower than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 3.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara CDP is $75,000. This is 22% lower than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 5% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.1%. This is 26% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 14.5%. This is 126% higher than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $452,600. Housing costs are 35% lower than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 17.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 69% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in University of California-Santa Barbara CDP is White (non-Hispanic), making up 45.1% of the population. Asian residents account for 30.7%. The Black or African American population (1.3%) is well below the state average of 5.3%. The Hispanic or Latino population (15.9%) is well below the state average of 39.8%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (30.7% vs 15.0%).

Education

76.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places University of California-Santa Barbara CDP in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 109% 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 97.4%. Notably, 45.6% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for University of California-Santa Barbara CDP, 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.