Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 443,975 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area

What is the median household income in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area?: The median household income in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area is $95,977 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area is 7.6% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area?: $735,700 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area is $2,050 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 35.9% of adults in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

443,975

Median Income

$95,977

Median Home Value

$735,700

Poverty Rate

7.6%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

6.1%

Median Age

34.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$21,353 (+28.6%) Home Value: +$158,300 (+27.4%) Poverty Rate: -0.2 pp (-2.6%) Bachelor's+: +1.7 pp (+5%) Unemployment: +0.3 pp (+5.2%)

Demographics

Total Population 443,975

Median Age 34.0

Female 49.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 47.6% White (non-Hisp.) 41.5% Black 1.7% Asian 5.3% Two or More 23.2% Other 13.6%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Filipino

1.5%

Chinese

1.4%

Indian

0.5%

Vietnamese

0.5%

Korean

0.4%

Japanese

0.4%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

42.6%

Puerto Rican

0.4%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $95,977 ±$1,875

Per Capita Income $127,676

Median Family Income $108,953

Poverty Rate 7.6%

Child Poverty Rate 11.9%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 9.9%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 24.3%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

4.5%

$10–15k

3.0%

$15–25k

4.8%

$25–35k

5.1%

$35–50k

9.0%

$50–75k

13.6%

$75–100k

11.8%

$100–150k

18.1%

$150–200k

11.4%

$200k+

18.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 159,766

Owner-Occupied 52.9%

Renter-Occupied 47.1%

Vacancy Rate 6.8%

Median Home Value $735,700

Median Gross Rent $2,050

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 29.2%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 47.7%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

2.9%

$50–100k

1.4%

$100–200k

1.6%

$200–300k

3.2%

$300–500k

19.8%

$500k–$1M

32.4%

$1M+

37.7%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

3.4%

$500–1k

5.4%

$1–1.5k

15.1%

$1.5–2k

23.9%

$2–2.5k

21.3%

$2.5–3.5k

11.3%

$3.5k+

19.5%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

6.2%

1 vehicle

30.2%

2 vehicles

36.7%

26.8%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

56.6%

Single-fam. att.

8.0%

2–4 units

3.6%

5–19 units

7.4%

20+ units

8.5%

Mobile home

4.6%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

8.2%

1940–1969

3.7%

1970–1999

18.2%

2000–2009

8.7%

2010+

5.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 82.1%

Bachelor's or Higher 35.9%

Graduate Degree 14.2%

Some College / Associate 20.9%

Less Than High School 11.4%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 62.7%

Unemployment Rate 6.1%

Work from Home 12.5%

Self-Employed 7.3%

Government Workers 16.5%

Private For-Profit 76.0%

Industry

Edu/Health

23.0%

Prof. Services

13.0%

Arts/Entmt.

11.2%

Retail

9.6%

Agriculture

8.1%

Manufacturing

7.1%

Construction

6.8%

Finance

4.5%

Public Admin

4.3%

Transportation

3.7%

Information

1.9%

Wholesale

1.9%

Occupation

Management

39.8%

Food Prep

19.7%

Sales

17.5%

Construction

13.6%

Production

9.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 20.8 min

Drove Alone 65.3%

Carpool 11.9%

Public Transit 2.3%

Work from Home 12.5%

Walked 3.9%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 148,960

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 47.0%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 18.2%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

6.1%

5–9

5.8%

10–14

6.7%

15–19

8.5%

20–24

10.2%

25–34

13.3%

35–44

11.7%

45–54

10.4%

55–64

5.6%

65–74

5.5%

75–84

9.1%

85+

4.7%

Under 18: 22.4% Working age (18–64): 77.6% 65 and over: 16.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 22.1%

Naturalized Citizen 39.4%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 16.2%

Foreign-Born Origin

Latin America

72.2%

Asia

16.5%

Europe

8.4%

Africa

0.9%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 5.0%

With a Disability 11.1%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 90.8%

Uninsured 9.2%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 92.1%

Has a Computer 96.0%

Same House 1 Year Ago 83.9%

Moved from Abroad 0.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023