How old are the homes in Isla Vista, CA?

Name: Age of homes in Isla Vista, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

60.6% (±7.5 points) of the homes in Isla Vista, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

1.4% were built before 1940.

7.9% were built in 2010 or later.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Built before 1980: 60.6% (±7.5 points)
Built before 1940: 1.4%
Built 2010 or later: 7.9%

When the homes in Isla Vista were built

Housing units by year structure built, 2020–2024
Year built	Isla Vista	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
2020 or later	0.3% (±0.4 points)	0.7%	1.3%	2.0%
2010 to 2019	7.6% (±2.4 points)	5.9%	6.5%	9.4%
2000 to 2009	5.5% (±2.1 points)	9.1%	11.2%	13.6%
1990 to 1999	12.2% (±3.8 points)	8.3%	10.1%	12.4%
1980 to 1989	13.9% (±3.9 points)	16.0%	14.9%	12.9%
1970 to 1979	20.9% (±4.0 points)	18.1%	16.8%	14.2%
1960 to 1969	26.8% (±4.7 points)	19.4%	12.5%	9.9%
1950 to 1959	9.8% (±3.5 points)	10.9%	12.4%	9.5%
1940 to 1949	1.7% (±2.1 points)	3.6%	5.4%	4.4%
1939 or earlier	1.4% (±1.4 points)	8.0%	8.9%	11.7%

In Isla Vista, the share of homes built before 1980 is not measurably different from Santa Barbara County (60.0%).

It is not measurably different from California (56.0%).

It is higher than the national figure (49.7%).

In Santa Barbara County, Isla Vista ranks 12 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of homes built before 1980.

Statewide, it ranks 461 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Why the age of a home matters: lead-based paint

Federal law treats housing built before 1978 as likely to contain lead-based paint.

Before a lease or sale of most pre-1978 housing, the landlord or seller must disclose any known lead-based paint and hazards and give the tenant or buyer the EPA pamphlet (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR part 745, subpart F; 24 CFR part 35, subpart A).

A contractor paid to renovate, repair or paint a pre-1978 home must be a certified firm, use a certified renovator and follow lead-safe work practices under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E) whenever the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of painted surface in a room or more than 20 square feet outside; window replacement and demolition always count (40 CFR 745.83).

Certification comes from EPA, or from the state where EPA has authorized the state to run the program.

The Census Bureau groups construction by decade, so the share built before 1978 lies between the share built before 1970 (39.7%) and the share built before 1980 (60.6%).

Homes built before 1980 in places near Isla Vista

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Isla Vista
Place	Distance	Homes built before 1980	Compared with this place
Isla Vista	—	60.6% (±7.5 points)	—
University of California-Santa Barbara	0.9 mi	43.9% (±11.8 points)	Lower
Goleta	1.6 mi	65.3% (±4.4 points)	Not measurably different
Eastern Goleta Valley	4.8 mi	71.8% (±5.2 points)	Higher
Santa Barbara	8.4 mi	73.5% (±3.1 points)	Higher
Mission Canyon	8.7 mi	83.1% (±16.8 points)	Higher
Montecito	13 mi	64.3% (±7.1 points)	Not measurably different
Summerland	16 mi	64.2% (±29.6 points)	Not measurably different
Toro Canyon	17 mi	62.2% (±17.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: University of California-Santa Barbara, CA (43.9%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Eastern Goleta Valley, CA (71.8%), Santa Barbara, CA (73.5%), Mission Canyon, CA (83.1%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Homes built before 1980 across Santa Barbara County, place by place

Rank	Place	Homes built before 1980
6	Goleta	65.3% (±4.4 points)
7	Montecito	64.3% (±7.1 points)
8 (tie)	Carpinteria	64.2% (±8.6 points)
8 (tie)	Summerland	64.2% (±29.6 points)
10	Toro Canyon	62.2% (±17.0 points)
11	Mission Hills	61.0% (±13.9 points)
12	Isla Vista	60.6% (±7.5 points)
13	Lompoc	58.0% (±4.5 points)
14	Santa Ynez	55.1% (±13.2 points)
15	Orcutt	47.9% (±4.0 points)
16	Santa Maria	46.7% (±2.8 points)
17	Solvang	44.5% (±9.0 points)
18	University of California-Santa Barbara	43.9% (±11.8 points)

Showing 13 of 22 places in Santa Barbara County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Isla Vista is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for statistics, with no municipal government of its own.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Isla Vista

How old are most homes in Isla Vista?

60.6% of homes in Isla Vista, CA were built before 1980 (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Do homes in Isla Vista need a lead paint disclosure?

A home built before 1978 does, before it is rented or sold, unless an exemption applies (42 U.S.C. § 4852d); between 39.7% and 60.6% of homes in Isla Vista were built before then.

Does a contractor need lead certification to work on older homes in Isla Vista?

Yes, when the job disturbs more than 6 square feet of paint in a room or 20 square feet outside, or replaces a window: the firm must be certified and a certified renovator must direct the work under the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (40 CFR part 745, subpart E).

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Isla Vista CDP, California

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Isla Vista CDP, California (place:36868, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0017PE, DP04_0017PM, DP04_0018PE, DP04_0018PM, DP04_0019PE, DP04_0019PM, DP04_0020PE, DP04_0020PM, DP04_0021PE, DP04_0021PM, DP04_0022PE, DP04_0022PM, DP04_0023PE, DP04_0023PM, DP04_0024PE, DP04_0024PM, DP04_0025PE, DP04_0025PM, DP04_0026PE, DP04_0026PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.