What is the median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA?

Name: Income and affordability 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

The median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA is $69,327 (±$15,034) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $1,526 a month would take about $61,000 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $69,327 (±$15,034)
Median renter income: $62,833 (±$19,825)
Income to afford median rent: about $61,000

Income in University of California-Santa Barbara against Santa Barbara County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	University of California-Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara County	California	United States
Median household income	$69,327 (±$15,034)	$98,161 (±$2,430)	$99,122 (±$310)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$62,833 (±$19,825)	$70,675 (±$2,599)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$250,000 or more	$131,935 (±$4,489)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$1,526 (±$111)	$2,131 (±$35)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In University of California-Santa Barbara, median household income is lower than in Santa Barbara County ($98,161).

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

It is not measurably different from the national figure ($80,734).

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

Statewide, it ranks 813 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 University of California-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 $1,526 a month ($18,312 a year) needs an income of about $61,000 a year.

The median renting household in University of California-Santa Barbara earns $62,833 a year.

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.

Median household income in places near University of California-Santa Barbara

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with University of California-Santa Barbara
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
University of California-Santa Barbara	—	$69,327 (±$15,034)	—
Isla Vista	0.9 mi	$25,972 (±$5,478)	Lower
Goleta	1.4 mi	$122,370 (±$8,547)	Higher
Eastern Goleta Valley	3.9 mi	$146,284 (±$7,208)	Higher
Santa Barbara	7.6 mi	$106,182 (±$5,647)	Higher
Mission Canyon	7.9 mi	$208,466 (±$53,524)	Higher
Montecito	12 mi	$231,005 (±$9,799)	Higher
Summerland	15 mi	$95,694 (±$83,937)	Not measurably different
Toro Canyon	16 mi	$140,743 (±$19,714)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Isla Vista, CA ($25,972).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Goleta, CA ($122,370), Eastern Goleta Valley, CA ($146,284), Santa Barbara, CA ($106,182).

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
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)
19	Lompoc	$72,004 (±$6,755)
20	University of California-Santa Barbara	$69,327 (±$15,034)
21	Guadalupe	$66,930 (±$10,686)
22	Isla Vista	$25,972 (±$5,478)

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), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about University of California-Santa Barbara

What is the median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara?

The median household income in University of California-Santa Barbara is $69,327 (±$15,034) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in University of California-Santa Barbara?

About $61,000 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $1,526 a month.

What do renters earn in University of California-Santa Barbara?

The median renting household in University of California-Santa Barbara, CA earns $62,833 (±$19,825) 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 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 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.