How long do people stay in their homes in Santa Barbara, CA?

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

27.8% (±2.1 points) of households in Santa Barbara, CA moved into their current home in 2020 or later (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

17.6% have lived in it since before 2000.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Moved in 2020 or later: 27.8% (±2.1 points)
Since before 2000: 17.6%

When households in Santa Barbara moved in

Occupied housing units by year the householder moved in, 2020–2024
Moved in	Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
2023 or later	5.2% (±0.9 points)	4.6%	4.3%	4.6%
2020 to 2022	22.6% (±1.9 points)	19.3%	19.1%	20.2%
2010 to 2019	39.3% (±2.3 points)	40.4%	41.2%	39.6%
2000 to 2009	15.3% (±1.5 points)	16.4%	17.0%	16.4%
1990 to 1999	8.5% (±1.0 points)	9.7%	9.7%	9.6%
1989 or earlier	9.1% (±1.0 points)	9.6%	8.8%	9.5%

A high share of recent movers usually means more renting households and more turnover; a high share of long-time residents usually means more owners who have stayed.

In Santa Barbara, the share of households that moved in since 2020 is higher than in Santa Barbara County (23.9%).

It is also higher than in California (23.4%).

It is higher than the national figure (24.8%).

Households that moved in since 2020 in places near Santa Barbara

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Santa Barbara
Place	Distance	Households that moved in since 2020	Compared with this place
Santa Barbara	—	27.8% (±2.1 points)	—
Mission Canyon	3.6 mi	10.7% (±5.6 points)	Lower
Montecito	4.7 mi	20.3% (±3.8 points)	Lower
Eastern Goleta Valley	4.9 mi	13.3% (±2.5 points)	Lower
Summerland	7.3 mi	25.4% (±20.0 points)	Not measurably different
University of California-Santa Barbara	7.6 mi	49.7% (±12.7 points)	Higher
Isla Vista	8.4 mi	71.7% (±6.9 points)	Higher
Goleta	8.6 mi	24.8% (±2.6 points)	Not measurably different
Toro Canyon	8.8 mi	25.4% (±11.0 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Mission Canyon, CA (10.7%), Montecito, CA (20.3%), Eastern Goleta Valley, CA (13.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: University of California-Santa Barbara, CA (49.7%), Isla Vista, CA (71.7%).

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

Households that moved in since 2020 across Santa Barbara County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that moved in since 2020
1	Isla Vista	71.7% (±6.9 points)
2	Vandenberg AFB	65.4% (±12.5 points)
3	University of California-Santa Barbara	49.7% (±12.7 points)
4	Santa Barbara	27.8% (±2.1 points)
5	Vandenberg Village	26.7% (±8.2 points)
6	Los Olivos	26.1% (±12.8 points)
7 (tie)	Summerland	25.4% (±20.0 points)
7 (tie)	Toro Canyon	25.4% (±11.0 points)
9	Goleta	24.8% (±2.6 points)
10	Santa Ynez	24.2% (±10.2 points)

Showing 10 of 22 places in Santa Barbara County, ranked from highest to lowest.

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 Santa Barbara

How often do people move in Santa Barbara?

27.8% of households in Santa Barbara, CA moved into their home in 2020 or later (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How many long-time residents does Santa Barbara have?

17.6% of households in Santa Barbara have lived in their home since 1999 or earlier.

Sources

Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Barbara city, 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 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 API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0051PE, DP04_0051PM, DP04_0052PE, DP04_0052PM, DP04_0053PE, DP04_0053PM, DP04_0054PE, DP04_0054PM, DP04_0055PE, DP04_0055PM, DP04_0056PE, DP04_0056PM

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.