There is a reason people from around the world dream of calling Santa Barbara home. Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the sparkling Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara offers an extraordinary lifestyle where natural beauty, culture, and community come together in a way that feels almost effortless.
Life here moves at a different pace. Mornings begin with a walk along the beach, a scenic hike through the foothills, or coffee at a favorite neighborhood café. Afternoons might include lunch overlooking the harbor, browsing the boutiques and shops along State Street, exploring one of the city's renowned museums or art galleries, or spending time with friends at one of the area's many parks or beaches. Evenings are often filled with award-winning dining, local wine, live theater, or unforgettable performances beneath the stars at the iconic Santa Barbara Bowl.
Santa Barbara is celebrated for its breathtaking coastline, Mediterranean architecture, year-round sunshine, and some of California's most beautiful beaches. Residents enjoy surfing, paddleboarding, sailing, cycling, golfing, tennis, and miles of scenic hiking trails that wind through the Santa Ynez Mountains, offering spectacular ocean vistas just minutes from downtown. Whether it's an afternoon at Leadbetter Beach, Butterfly Beach, Shoreline Park, or watching the sunset from Stearns Wharf, life here is deeply connected to the outdoors.
Beyond its natural beauty, Santa Barbara is a city rich in arts, history, and culture. The community embraces creativity through its thriving theater scene, symphony, film festival, live music venues, public art, and world-class museums. Farmers markets, seasonal festivals, neighborhood gatherings, and community traditions create a welcoming atmosphere where it's easy to feel connected and at home.
One of Santa Barbara's greatest luxuries is how effortlessly everything comes together. Within minutes, you can go from the beach to a mountain trail, enjoy dinner downtown after a morning on the water, visit a local winery, or take in a concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl. Outstanding schools, exceptional healthcare, beautiful neighborhoods, and a genuine sense of community make Santa Barbara as practical as it is beautiful.
While visitors often come for the scenery, those fortunate enough to live here know that Santa Barbara's greatest treasure is the lifestyle it offers. It's a place where life naturally slows down, relationships matter, and every day brings another opportunity to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.
People may discover Santa Barbara for its beauty, but they stay for the lifestyle, the community, and the feeling that they've found home.
88,024 people live in Santa Barbara, where the median age is 39.4 and the average individual income is $62,921. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Median Age
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Average individual Income
There's plenty to do around Santa Barbara, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Mesa Brew, Southern Sweets, and Mesa Produce.
| Name | Category | Distance | Reviews |
Ratings by
Yelp
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining | 0.59 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.69 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Dining · $$ | 0.69 miles | 28 reviews | 4.9/5 stars | |
| Shopping | 0.58 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.15 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.51 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.64 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.69 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.69 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.75 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.75 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.75 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.75 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.76 miles | 5 reviews | 3.6/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.81 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.83 miles | 4 reviews | 4.5/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.84 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Active | 0.89 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Nightlife | 0.54 miles | 56 reviews | 4.2/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.5 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.56 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.56 miles | 2 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.75 miles | 6 reviews | 5/5 stars | |
| Beauty | 0.84 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
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Santa Barbara has 36,618 households, with an average household size of 2.34. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Santa Barbara do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 88,024 people call Santa Barbara home. The population density is 4,512 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Total Population
Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
Median Age
Men vs Women
Population by Age Group
0-9 Years
10-17 Years
18-24 Years
25-64 Years
65-74 Years
75+ Years
Education Level
Total Households
Average Household Size
Average individual Income
Households with Children
With Children:
Without Children:
Marital Status
Blue vs White Collar Workers
Blue Collar:
White Collar: