How long is the commute from University of California-Santa Barbara, CA?

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

Workers who live in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA take an average of 14.3 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

22.7% of workers drive alone to work.

6.6% take public transportation.

24.5% of workers walk to work.

16.8% work from home.

5.4% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 14.3 minutes (±1.7)
Public transportation: 6.6%
Work from home: 16.8%
Households without a car: 5.4%

How people in University of California-Santa Barbara get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	University of California-Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
Drove alone	22.7% (±5.3 points)	64.7%	65.7%	68.8%
Carpooled	4.6% (±1.9 points)	11.7%	9.5%	8.5%
Public transportation	6.6% (±2.9 points)	2.2%	2.9%	3.2%
Walked	24.5% (±4.4 points)	3.9%	2.4%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	24.8% (±5.2 points)	4.1%	2.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	16.8% (±5.0 points)	13.4%	17.2%	15.1%

In University of California-Santa Barbara, the average commute is lower than in Santa Barbara County (20.8 minutes).

It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In University of California-Santa Barbara, the share commuting by public transportation is higher than in Santa Barbara County (2.2%).

It is also higher than in California (2.9%).

It is higher than the national figure (3.2%).

In Santa Barbara County, University of California-Santa Barbara ranks 20 of 22 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 1050 of 1,076.

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

Cars per household in University of California-Santa Barbara

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	University of California-Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
No vehicle	5.4% (±3.4 points)	5.9%	7.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	57.3% (±11.9 points)	30.7%	30.7%	33.1%
2 vehicles	29.5% (±12.1 points)	36.3%	36.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	7.8% (±4.4 points)	27.0%	25.8%	21.9%

In University of California-Santa Barbara, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from Santa Barbara County (5.9%).

It is not measurably different from California (7.1%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in University of California-Santa Barbara

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	University of California-Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
Workers working from home	16.8% (±5.0 points)	13.4% (±0.7 points)	17.2% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	100.0% (±5.8 points)	96.4% (±0.3 points)	96.9% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	44.9% (±11.0 points)	92.5% (±0.5 points)	93.5% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In University of California-Santa Barbara, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in Santa Barbara County (92.5%).

It is also lower than in California (93.5%).

It is lower than the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near University of California-Santa Barbara

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with University of California-Santa Barbara
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
University of California-Santa Barbara	—	14.3 minutes (±1.7)	—
Isla Vista	0.9 mi	15.6 minutes (±1.5)	Not measurably different
Goleta	1.4 mi	17.8 minutes (±1.4)	Higher
Eastern Goleta Valley	3.9 mi	15.3 minutes (±1.1)	Not measurably different
Santa Barbara	7.6 mi	17.3 minutes (±0.8)	Higher
Mission Canyon	7.9 mi	14.2 minutes (±2.7)	Not measurably different
Montecito	12 mi	18.4 minutes (±2.8)	Higher
Summerland	15 mi	21.4 minutes (±7.9)	Not measurably different
Toro Canyon	16 mi	26.5 minutes (±12.1)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Goleta, CA (17.8 minutes), Santa Barbara, CA (17.3 minutes), Montecito, CA (18.4 minutes).

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

Average commute across Santa Barbara County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
14	Los Alamos	18.6 minutes (±2.6)
15	Montecito	18.4 minutes (±2.8)
16	Goleta	17.8 minutes (±1.4)
17	Santa Barbara	17.3 minutes (±0.8)
18	Isla Vista	15.6 minutes (±1.5)
19	Eastern Goleta Valley	15.3 minutes (±1.1)
20	University of California-Santa Barbara	14.3 minutes (±1.7)
21	Mission Canyon	14.2 minutes (±2.7)
22	Vandenberg AFB	11.2 minutes (±4.4)

Showing 9 of 22 places in Santa Barbara County, ranked from highest to lowest.

University of California-Santa Barbara 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.

What you can do on Seayora in University of California-Santa Barbara

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near University of California-Santa Barbara, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for University of California-Santa Barbara beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near University of California-Santa Barbara, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about University of California-Santa Barbara

How long is the average commute in University of California-Santa Barbara?

Workers who live in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA take an average of 14.3 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in University of California-Santa Barbara without a car?

5.4% of households in University of California-Santa Barbara have no vehicle, and 6.6% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in University of California-Santa Barbara?

16.8% (±5.0 points) of workers who live in University of California-Santa Barbara worked from home, and 44.9% of households have a broadband subscription.

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) for University of California-Santa Barbara CDP, California (place:81316, 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.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

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.