Median Age
40 Years
Largest Age Group
25-34 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
21%
Over 65
21%
Santa Barbara, CA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,311
Population
90,079
Renter Mix
59% Rent
From mountain to ocean
Coastal
•
Nautical
•
Artistic
Between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara combines coastal living with Mediterranean-style architecture. The city's Spanish Colonial Revival buildings and year-round mild climate have earned it the nickname "The American Riviera." The rental market remains competitive, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $2,224 per month (up 3.6% year-over-year), while two-bedrooms average $3,235 (up 2.6%). The Mesa and Upper State Street areas feature apartment communities and rental homes near beaches and downtown.
Santa Barbara's outdoor lifestyle centers around its beaches, State Street shopping district, and the historic Mission Santa Barbara. The University of California Santa Barbara campus contributes to the area's educational atmosphere. Local events include farmers' markets throughout the week and the annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Residents have access to numerous hiking trails and bike paths, including Rattlesnake Canyon trail. The city holds an interesting place in cinema history - Flying A Studios operated here from 1910 to 1922, producing approximately 1,200 silent films before the industry shifted to Hollywood.
Explore the City
East Beach residents are only minutes away from the Pacific Ocean.
West Downtown Santa Barbara is a very walkable neighborhood.
Downtown Santa Barbara is located between the ocean and mountains.
Lower State Santa Barbara is very central to the city.
Locals head to East Beach to surf a good beach break.
Paseo Nuevo is a bustling shopping center located off State Street in Santa Barbara.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$97,419
Average: $131,517
Education
40,100
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
48,433
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Santa Barbara has more renters than homeowners.
Renters
59%
Non-Renters
41%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
37%
Other Education
63%
Rent Trends
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,167 for a studio, $2,320 for one bedroom, $3,464 for two bedrooms, and $4,465 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Santa Barbara has increased by 1.1% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,320/month
517 Sq Ft
House
$14,637/month
1,671 Sq Ft
Condo
$3,770/month
783 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Santa Barbara, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Limited Public Transit
Transit
30
/ 100
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
70
/ 100
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
60
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Public
Grades K-5
353 Students
Mountain View Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
351 Students
Vieja Valley Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
313 Students
Public
Grades K-5
313 Students
Public
Grades K-5
267 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
832 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
832 Students
Public
Grades K-12
331 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
426 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
426 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,926 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,926 Students
Public
Grades K-12
331 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,924 Students
Santa Barbara Senior High School
Public
Grades 9-12
1,924 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
- Rocky Nook Park
- El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
- Tuckers Grove County Park
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Airports
- Santa Barbara Municipal
Top Apartments in Santa Barbara
Houses for Rent in Santa Barbara
Property Management Companies in Santa Barbara, CA
The Towbes Group, Inc.
-
10
Communities
-
1,745
Units
-
5
Cities
5 Communities in Santa Barbara
Greystar
-
3,527
Communities
-
969,958
Units
-
897
Cities
2 Communities in Santa Barbara
Red Tail Residential
-
40
Communities
-
5,640
Units
-
32
Cities
2 Communities in Santa Barbara
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
-
159
Communities
-
32,002
Units
-
86
Cities
1 Community in Santa Barbara
Cirrus Asset Management, Inc.
-
88
Communities
-
10,834
Units
-
53
Cities
1 Community in Santa Barbara
Redstone Residential
-
59
Communities
-
8,085
Units
-
29
Cities
1 Community in Santa Barbara
Search Nearby Rentals
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Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.