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Santa Barbara, California

city · Santa Barbara County

At a glance

87,779
Population
$1,570,800
Median home value (all homes)
418% above U.S. median
$1,848,325
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$2,413/mo
Median rent
79% above U.S. median
$106,182
Median household income
35% above U.S. median
17.3 min
Average commute
93.9%
Homes with broadband
52.92%
Locations with fiber available
5.8%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 220 — 120% above the national average. how it's computed

Housing435% above
Goods & services3% above
Utilities26% below
Taxes34% below
Insurance11% below
Commute cost7% below
For business: California is CBII band 4/5 · time to build band 5/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college0 mi
Nearest community college1 mi
Nearest technical college25 mi
High school graduates89.2%
College graduates51.9%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city Santa Barbara Community Development
The City of Santa Barbara's Community Development Department assists the public in managing the development of the community to protect and preserve the quality of life, promote a sound economic base and appropriate design, and ensure safe construction.
state Governor's Office of Economic Development
The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, or GO-Biz, serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth, economic development and business assistance efforts. It offers no-cost consultation to business owners for attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, and more.
state Team California
TeamCalifornia is the go-to partner for businesses, site selectors, and communities looking to succeed in California. With our extensive network, we provide direct access to the best sites, accelerate speed-to-market, and give essential resources to streamline decision-making and drive growth.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateNo

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