What are the schools like in Goleta, CA?

Goleta is served primarily by Goleta Union Elementary. The district operates 9 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 19.9:1.

What is the median household income in Goleta?

The median household income in Goleta, CA is $113,889 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

What is the weather like in Goleta, CA?

Goleta has an average high temperature of 64.2°F in January and 73.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.2 inches.

Goleta, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Goleta, CA affordable or expensive?

Goleta's cost of living index is 114, where 100 represents the national average. This means Goleta is 14% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $910,700 and the median rent is $2,210 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Goleta, CA?

Goleta has a violent crime rate of 205.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1569.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Goleta, CA a Good Place to Live?

Goleta is a small city of 32,640 in California, with a median household income of $113,889 and a 4.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 114 (US average = 100), which is 14% above the national average.

Strengths: Goleta stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Goleta is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Goleta city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 113.5

Goleta's overall cost of living index is 113.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Goleta costs roughly 14% more than the average American city.

Metric	Goleta, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$910,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,210	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$113,889	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Goleta's violent crime rate is 205.3 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

205.3 /100k

Property Crime

1569.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Goleta is served primarily by Goleta Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Goleta, CA	National Avg
School District	Goleta Union Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	9	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	19.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Goleta sees average highs of 64.2°F in January and 73.3°F in July, with 17.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Goleta, CA
Average High — January	64.2°F
Average High — July	73.3°F
Annual Precipitation	17.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Goleta, CA	National Avg
Population	32,640	—
Median Age	35.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	57.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	24.8%	18.9%
Asian	10.6%	6.3%
Under 18	19.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA 1 mi Isla Vista, CA 2 mi Eastern Goleta Valley, CA 4 mi Mission Canyon, CA 8 mi Santa Barbara, CA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Goleta

Goleta, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

93117

Goleta vs Other Cities

Goleta, CA vs University of California-Santa Barbara, CA Goleta, CA vs Isla Vista, CA Goleta, CA vs Eastern Goleta Valley, CA Goleta, CA vs Mission Canyon, CA Goleta, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Goleta, CA affordable or expensive?

Goleta's cost of living index is 114, where 100 is the national average. That puts Goleta roughly 14% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $910,700 and median rent is $2,210/month.

What is the crime rate in Goleta, CA?

Goleta's violent crime rate is 205.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1569.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Goleta?

Public schools in Goleta are operated by Goleta Union Elementary. The district has 9 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.9:1. 50.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Goleta, CA a good place to live?

Goleta, CA has a population of 32,640, a median household income of $113,889, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Goleta?

Goleta averages 64.2°F in January and 73.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 17.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Goleta?

Goleta, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 93117.

What is the population of Goleta?

The population of Goleta, California is 32,640 with a median age of 35.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Goleta?

Key numbers for living in Goleta: cost of living index 114 (100 = US average), median home $910,700, median household income $113,889, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Goleta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.