What are the schools like in Isla Vista, CA?

School district data for Isla Vista is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Isla Vista?

The median household income in Isla Vista, CA is $23,121 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 17.6%.

What is the weather like in Isla Vista, CA?

Isla Vista has an average high temperature of 63.5°F in January and 71.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 19.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Isla Vista, CA affordable or expensive?

Isla Vista's cost of living index is 114, where 100 represents the national average. This means Isla Vista is 14% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,078,100 and the median rent is $1,851 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Isla Vista, CA?

Isla Vista has a violent crime rate of 285.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1066.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Isla Vista, CA a Good Place to Live?

Isla Vista is a small city of 14,722 in California, with a median household income of $23,121 and a 17.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 114 (US average = 100), which is 14% above the national average.

Strengths: Isla Vista stands out for a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Isla Vista 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

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

Metric	Isla Vista, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,078,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,851	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	1.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$23,121	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Isla Vista's violent crime rate is 285.3 per 100,000 residents — 25% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

285.3 /100k

Property Crime

1066.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Isla Vista, CA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	46.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Isla Vista sees average highs of 63.5°F in January and 71.0°F in July, with 19.0 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Isla Vista, CA
Average High — January	63.5°F
Average High — July	71.0°F
Annual Precipitation	19.0"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Isla Vista, CA	National Avg
Population	14,722	—
Median Age	21.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	17.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	61.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.7%	18.9%
Asian	16.6%	6.3%
Under 18	2.2%	22.2%
65 and over	2.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA 1 mi Goleta, CA 2 mi Eastern Goleta Valley, CA 5 mi Santa Barbara, CA 8 mi Mission Canyon, CA 9 mi

Isla Vista vs Other Cities

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Isla Vista, CA affordable or expensive?

Isla Vista's cost of living index is 114, where 100 is the national average. That puts Isla Vista roughly 14% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,078,100 and median rent is $1,851/month.

What is the crime rate in Isla Vista, CA?

Isla Vista's violent crime rate is 285.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1066.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Isla Vista?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Isla Vista, CA a good place to live?

Isla Vista, CA has a population of 14,722, a median household income of $23,121, and an unemployment rate of 17.6%. 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 Isla Vista?

Isla Vista averages 63.5°F in January and 71.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 19.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Isla Vista?

The population of Isla Vista, California is 14,722 with a median age of 21.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Isla Vista?

Key numbers for living in Isla Vista: cost of living index 114 (100 = US average), median home $1,078,100, median household income $23,121, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Isla Vista side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.