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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City rankings
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).
Santa Barbara city, CA Climate
Santa Barbara city, CA has an average annual temperature of 15.9°C (61°F) and receives about 444 mm of precipitation per year. The warmest month is August and the coldest is January. Figures are 1970–2000 climate normals.
15.9°C
Avg Temp
444
Precip (mm/yr)
Aug
Hottest Month
Jan
Coldest Month
| Month | Avg (°C/°F) | Precip |
|---|---|---|
| January | 12° / 54° | 93 mm |
| February | 13° / 55° | 106 mm |
| March | 13° / 56° | 88 mm |
| April | 15° / 58° | 23 mm |
| May | 16° / 61° | 8 mm |
| June | 18° / 64° | 2 mm |
| July | 19° / 67° | 0 mm |
| August | 20° / 68° | 1 mm |
| September | 19° / 67° | 7 mm |
| October | 18° / 64° | 12 mm |
| November | 15° / 59° | 41 mm |
| December | 12° / 54° | 63 mm |
1970–2000 normals from WorldClim 2.1 (~9 km grid). Precipitation can be less precise near mountains or coastlines, where rainfall varies sharply over short distances.
Best time to visit Santa Barbara city, CA
The most comfortable months to visit Santa Barbara city, CA are typically August, July and September, when temperatures are mildest and rainfall is relatively low. The hottest month is August (around 26°C high). The coldest is January (near 6°C low). February is usually the wettest month.
Where to stay near Santa Barbara
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Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.