What is the median household income in Santa Barbara, CA?

Name: Income and affordability in Santa Barbara, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The median household income in Santa Barbara, CA is $106,182 (±$5,647) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $2,413 a month would take about $96,500 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

In Santa Barbara, the median household income went from $76,606 in 2015–2019 to $106,182 in 2020–2024 (+38.6%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $106,182 (±$5,647)
Median renter income: $83,804 (±$5,457)
Income to afford median rent: about $96,500

Income in Santa Barbara against Santa Barbara County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
Median household income	$106,182 (±$5,647)	$98,161 (±$2,430)	$99,122 (±$310)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$83,804 (±$5,457)	$70,675 (±$2,599)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$167,500 (±$9,658)	$131,935 (±$4,489)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$2,413 (±$62)	$2,131 (±$35)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Santa Barbara, median household income is higher than in Santa Barbara County ($98,161).

It is also higher than in California ($99,122).

It is higher than the national figure ($80,734).

In Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara ranks 12 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median household income.

Statewide, it ranks 396 of 1,069.

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

How much you need to earn to rent in Santa Barbara

Many landlords and housing programs use 30% of gross income as the most a household should spend on rent.

At that guideline, the median gross rent of $2,413 a month ($28,956 a year) needs an income of about $96,500 a year.

The median renting household in Santa Barbara earns $83,804 a year, less than that.

This is arithmetic on the published medians, not a rule any landlord must follow; screening criteria vary and some places limit how income may be weighed.

Income against housing costs since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median household income	$76,606 (±$3,015)	$106,182 (±$5,647)	+38.6%	Up after inflation
Median gross rent	$1,786 (±$37)	$2,413 (±$62)	+35.1%	Up after inflation
Median home value	$1,051,500 (±$29,589)	$1,570,800 (±$58,636)	+49.4%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median household income in places near Santa Barbara

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Santa Barbara
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
Santa Barbara	—	$106,182 (±$5,647)	—
Mission Canyon	3.6 mi	$208,466 (±$53,524)	Higher
Montecito	4.7 mi	$231,005 (±$9,799)	Higher
Eastern Goleta Valley	4.9 mi	$146,284 (±$7,208)	Higher
Summerland	7.3 mi	$95,694 (±$83,937)	Not measurably different
University of California-Santa Barbara	7.6 mi	$69,327 (±$15,034)	Lower
Isla Vista	8.4 mi	$25,972 (±$5,478)	Lower
Goleta	8.6 mi	$122,370 (±$8,547)	Higher
Toro Canyon	8.8 mi	$140,743 (±$19,714)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: University of California-Santa Barbara, CA ($69,327), Isla Vista, CA ($25,972).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Mission Canyon, CA ($208,466), Montecito, CA ($231,005), Eastern Goleta Valley, CA ($146,284).

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

Median household income across Santa Barbara County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median household income
6	Goleta	$122,370 (±$8,547)
7	Mission Hills	$111,974 (±$25,310)
8	Orcutt	$111,416 (±$8,890)
9	Vandenberg Village	$110,904 (±$14,463)
10	Santa Ynez	$110,781 (±$24,650)
11	Solvang	$109,091 (±$17,538)
12	Santa Barbara	$106,182 (±$5,647)
13	Carpinteria	$100,658 (±$12,413)
14	Buellton	$99,936 (±$26,790)
15	Summerland	$95,694 (±$83,937)
16	Santa Maria	$84,746 (±$4,196)
17	Vandenberg AFB	$84,167 (±$12,699)
18	Los Alamos	$79,167 (±$21,259)

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

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Santa Barbara

What is the median household income in Santa Barbara?

The median household income in Santa Barbara is $106,182 (±$5,647) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in Santa Barbara?

About $96,500 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $2,413 a month.

Have incomes in Santa Barbara kept up with inflation?

In Santa Barbara, the median household income went from $76,606 in 2015–2019 to $106,182 in 2020–2024 (+38.6%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

What do renters earn in Santa Barbara?

The median renting household in Santa Barbara, CA earns $83,804 (±$5,457) a year.

Sources

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Santa Barbara city, California (place:69070, in state:06).

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

The 2015–2019 figures are B19013_001E, B19013_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M

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.