What is the median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara?

The median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA is $78,214 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 15.0%.

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: What is the crime rate in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA?

University of California-Santa Barbara 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.

Q: What are the schools like in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA?

School district data for University of California-Santa Barbara is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Q: What is the weather like in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA?

University of California-Santa Barbara has an average high temperature of 64.2°F in January and 73.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 17.2 inches.

Is University of California-Santa Barbara, CA a Good Place to Live?

University of California-Santa Barbara is a small city of 11,441 in California, with a median household income of $78,214 and a 15.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 114 (US average = 100), which is 14% above the national average.

Strengths: University of California-Santa Barbara 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 University of California-Santa Barbara is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All University of California-Santa Barbara 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

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

Metric	University of California-Santa Barbara, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$455,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,520	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	17.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$78,214	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

University of California-Santa Barbara'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	University of California-Santa Barbara, 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	80.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

University of California-Santa Barbara sees average highs of 64.2°F in January and 73.3°F in July, with 17.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Average High — January	64.2°F
Average High — July	73.3°F
Annual Precipitation	17.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	University of California-Santa Barbara, CA	National Avg
Population	11,441	—
Median Age	19.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	15.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	45.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.2%	18.9%
Asian	32.3%	6.3%
Under 18	4.6%	22.2%
65 and over	0.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Isla Vista, CA 1 mi Goleta, CA 1 mi Eastern Goleta Valley, CA 4 mi Santa Barbara, CA 8 mi Mission Canyon, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in University of California-Santa Barbara

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

93106

University of California-Santa Barbara vs Other Cities

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of California-Santa Barbara, CA affordable or expensive?

University of California-Santa Barbara's cost of living index is 114, where 100 is the national average. That puts University of California-Santa Barbara roughly 14% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $455,000 and median rent is $1,520/month.

What is the crime rate in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA?

University of California-Santa Barbara'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 University of California-Santa Barbara?

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

Is University of California-Santa Barbara, CA a good place to live?

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA has a population of 11,441, a median household income of $78,214, and an unemployment rate of 15.0%. 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 University of California-Santa Barbara?

University of California-Santa Barbara 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 University of California-Santa Barbara?

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 93106.

What is the population of University of California-Santa Barbara?

The population of University of California-Santa Barbara, California is 11,441 with a median age of 19.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in University of California-Santa Barbara?

Key numbers for living in University of California-Santa Barbara: cost of living index 114 (100 = US average), median home $455,000, median household income $78,214, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare University of California-Santa Barbara side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.