Santa Barbara, California Population 2026
Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
The population of Santa Barbara, California is 88,024 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 94th-largest city in California. The median household income is $101,672, the median home value is $1,466,400, and the median age is 39.4.
The population has declined 1.3% since 2010 (88,468 → 87,291).
88,024
Population
4517
People / sq mi
$101,672
Median Income
$1,466,400
Median Home Value
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Santa Barbara covers 19.5 sq mi of land at 4517 people per square mile.
About Santa Barbara, CA
Housing cost is the defining feature of Santa Barbara: the median home is valued at $1,466,400. With 88,024 residents, Santa Barbara is a city in California.
Households take in a median $101,672, comfortably above the US median of $78,538. Poverty runs at 6.7%, below the national 12.4%. Housing is expensive: the median home is worth $1,466,400, with typical rent around $2,302.
About 50.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, above the 35.0% national figure. A solid 17.0% of workers are based at home, above the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 17 minutes each way.
High housing values reframe the income picture in Santa Barbara — even solid earnings stretch less against home prices and rents at this level.
Santa Barbara city Population History (2010-2024)
The city of Santa Barbara city had a population of 88,468 in 2010 and 87,291 in 2024, a -1.3% growth over 14 years. The peak was 91,518 in 2016. Average annual growth rate: -0.09%.
87,291
Population (2024)
88,468
Population (2010)
91,518
Peak (2016)
-0.09%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 88,468 |
| 2011 | 88,605 |
| 2012 | 89,285 |
| 2013 | 90,082 |
| 2014 | 90,815 |
| 2015 | 91,275 |
| 2016 | 91,518 |
| 2017 | 91,517 |
| 2018 | 91,203 |
| 2019 | 91,364 |
| 2020 | 88,768 |
| 2021 | 88,203 |
| 2022 | 87,535 |
| 2023 | 87,140 |
| 2024 | 87,291 |
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 63.3% |
| Black or African American | 1.3% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.9% |
| Two or More Races | 0.1% |
Economy & Income
$101,672
Median Household Income
$62,921
Per Capita Income
6.7%
Poverty Rate
3.0%
Unemployment Rate
Housing
$1,466,400
Median Home Value
$2,302
Median Rent
39.8%
Owner-Occupied
Education
88.9%
High School+
50.2%
Bachelor's+
Commute
2.3%
Drive Alone
61.3%
Public Transit
17.0%
Work From Home
17.1 min
Avg Commute
Community Profile
23.4%
Foreign Born
68.9%
Non-English at Home
3.8%
Veterans
11.2%
With Disability
90.6%
Health Insurance
96.8%
Internet Access
Employment by Industry
| Professional, Scientific & Management | 22.6% |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate | 19.9% |
| Education, Health Care & Social Services | 14.3% |
| Information | 6.1% |
| Construction | 5.7% |
| Manufacturing | 5.5% |
| Arts, Entertainment & Food Services | 5.0% |
| Public Administration | 3.0% |
| Retail Trade | 2.8% |
| Transportation & Warehousing | 2.5% |
| Agriculture & Mining | 0.8% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Barbara, California has a population of 88,024 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 94th-largest city in California.
The median household income in Santa Barbara, California is $101,672, with 6.7% of residents living below the federal poverty level.
The median home value in Santa Barbara, California is $1,466,400, with median monthly rent at $2,302 and a homeownership rate of 39.8%.
The median age in Santa Barbara, California is 39.4 years. The population is 48.9% male and 51.1% female.
The population has declined 1.3% since 2010 (88,468 → 87,291).
Where to stay in Santa Barbara
Visiting or relocating to Santa Barbara, CA? Compare hotels and short-term rentals across the metro — live availability and prices.
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Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.