Vandenberg AFB, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Vandenberg AFB is a small community located in California, within Santa Barbara County. The total population is 3,477. It ranks as the 748th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Vandenberg AFB is 25.1 years. This is 34% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, Vandenberg AFB has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Vandenberg AFB is $84,167. This is 15% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 4% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 1.4%. This is 88% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 6.1%. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. Every occupied housing unit the survey reached in Vandenberg AFB was renter-occupied. At this sample size that indicates no owner-occupied homes were captured rather than that none exist.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Vandenberg AFB is White (non-Hispanic), making up 55.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 17.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (55.3% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (8.7% vs 5.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population (17.5%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (5.0%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

48.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 30% higher than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 18.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Vandenberg AFB, 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.