Isla Vista, California Population 2026
Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
The population of Isla Vista, California is 13,717 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 422nd-largest city in California. The median household income is $24,428, the median home value is $1,241,700, and the median age is 21.2.
13,717
Population
24895
People / sq mi
$24,428
Median Income
$1,241,700
Median Home Value
Isla Vista covers 0.6 sq mi of land at 24895 people per square mile.
About Isla Vista, CA
Isla Vista is a city in California with a population of 13,717. It ranks #422 among cities in California by population. The median age is 21.2, younger than the national median. The population is 44.0% male and 56.0% female.
The median household income in Isla Vista is $24,428, below the US median of $74,580. 6.7% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $1,241,700, with monthly rent averaging $1,856. The homeownership rate of 1.0% is lower than the national rate of 64.8%.
Educational attainment in Isla Vista reflects 40.8% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 8.3% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 15.8 minutes each way.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 60.2% |
| Black or African American | 4.8% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.2% |
| Two or More Races | 0.1% |
Economy & Income
$24,428
Median Household Income
$13,289
Per Capita Income
6.7%
Poverty Rate
10.1%
Unemployment Rate
Housing
$1,241,700
Median Home Value
$1,856
Median Rent
1.0%
Owner-Occupied
Education
90.6%
High School+
40.8%
Bachelor's+
Commute
3.5%
Drive Alone
50.6%
Public Transit
8.3%
Work From Home
15.8 min
Avg Commute
Community Profile
16.8%
Foreign Born
73.1%
Non-English at Home
0.8%
Veterans
7.9%
With Disability
94.9%
Health Insurance
98.8%
Internet Access
Employment by Industry
| Professional, Scientific & Management | 33.0% |
| Education, Health Care & Social Services | 30.0% |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 5.4% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing | 3.5% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Food Services | 3.4% |
| Retail Trade | 3.0% |
| Public Administration | 2.4% |
| Construction | 1.7% |
| Information | 0.6% |
| Agriculture & Mining | 0.2% |
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City rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
Isla Vista, California has a population of 13,717 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 422nd-largest city in California.
The median household income in Isla Vista, California is $24,428, with 6.7% of residents living below the federal poverty level.
The median home value in Isla Vista, California is $1,241,700, with median monthly rent at $1,856 and a homeownership rate of 1.0%.
The median age in Isla Vista, California is 21.2 years. The population is 44.0% male and 56.0% female.
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Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.