Santa Barbara, CA—93109
Real Estate Data & Market Trends
Key Metrics at a Glance
Home Price Trends — Santa Barbara, CA
As of Oct '25, the median home price in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,315,000, with a year-over-year change of -1.9%. This indicates that home prices in Santa Barbara, CA are decreasing. According to Zillow, the 1-year price projection is 3.4%, suggesting an increase housing market in the next year.
Cost per Home Type
| Home Type | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
All Homes | $2,315,000 | -2.0% |
| Single Family | $2,420,000 | -1.7% |
| Condos | $977,000 | -2.6% |
Cost per Home Size
| Home Size | Median Home Value | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
1 Bed | N/A | N/A |
2 Bed | $1,579,000 | 1.0% |
3 Bed | $2,323,000 | -1.7% |
4 Bed | $2,726,000 | -2.4% |
| 5 Bed | $3,294,000 | -1.5% |
% of Housing Stock
Rental Trends — Santa Barbara, CA
As of July '25, Rentcast reports the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $6,190, with a year-over-year rent change of 6.4%. Per bedroom, the median rent as of July '25 in Santa Barbara, CA is 1-bedrooms: $3,230, 2-bedrooms: $4,900, 3-bedrooms: $7,750. The most common rental property sizes in Santa Barbara, CA are 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom, accounting for 42.1% and 20.4% of the rental stock.
| Type | Median Rent | Average Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $6,250 | $6,190 |
| Studio Rent | N/A | N/A |
| 1 Bed Rent | $3,600 | $3,230 |
| 2 Bed Rent | $4,750 | $4,900 |
| 3 Bed Rent | $7,600 | $7,750 |
| 4 Bed Rent | N/A | N/A |
% of Rental Stock
Property Listings — Santa Barbara, CA
As of Oct '25, Realtor.com reports that the median days on market for a home in Santa Barbara, CA is 50. This is a decrease of -26.0% from last year, suggesting that homes are sitting on the market shorter than last year. The percentage of listed homes with a reduced price is 32.0%, representing a large inventory and a lot of supply pressure on home prices.
| Metric | Zip Code Average | Year over Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
Median Listing Price | $3,140,000 | -2.0% |
Listing Count | 37 | 15.0% |
| Listings as % of Homes | 0.2% | 15.0% |
Days on Market | 50 | -26.0% |
Demographics — Santa Barbara, CA
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Santa Barbara, CA has a population of 11,100, which has decreased by -4.4% over the past 5 years. Santa Barbara, CA is a less popular place for families, as children make up 13.5% of the population. The area has a highly educated workforce, with 58.4% of adult residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are some residents working remotely, with 20.2% reporting working from home.
| Metric | Latest Census | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
Population | 11,100 | -4.4% |
% Under 18 | 13.5% | 7.1% |
% Seniors | 24.0% | 9.1% |
% WFH | 20.2% | 90.6% |
% w/ College Degree | 58.4% | -2.5% |
As of the latest ACS Survey released in 2023, Santa Barbara, CA is a predominantly white area, with 72.4% of the population identifying as white. The white population has shrunk by 1.5% in the last 5 years. The second most common race or ethnicity in Santa Barbara, CA is hispanic, making up 18.8% of the population. Foreign-born residents account for 10.7% of the population in Santa Barbara, CA, and this percentage has decreased by 22.5% as of the ACS Survey 5 years prior, suggesting fewer immigrants are calling the area home.
Race and Ethnicity
| Metric | Latest Census | 5-Year % Change |
|---|---|---|
% White | 72.4% | -1.5% |
% Black | 2.0% | 53.8% |
% Hispanic | 18.8% | 6.2% |
% Asian | 1.8% | -64.7% |
% Foreign Born | 10.7% | -22.5% |
Mortgage and Risk — Santa Barbara, CA
According to HUD data as of 2023, there were 90 mortgage originations in Santa Barbara, CA, of which 98.0% of loans were conventional mortgages. The average loan-to-value was 39.0%, with 1.0% above 90% LTV (normal). This implies small mortgage risk in Santa Barbara, CA. Investor activity is low, as 3.0% of loans were by investors. 18.0% of loans were cash-out refinances, suggesting many homeowners are tapping equity.
Mortgages
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
Total Loan Originations | 90 |
% Conventional Loans | 98.0% |
% Government Loans | 2.0% |
% Investor Loans | 3.0% |
% Second Loans | 11.0% |
% Cash Out Refinance | 18.0% |
Loan Activity
Rentals and Section 8 — Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara, CA lacks sufficient Section 8 program data for analysis.
Section 8 Market Size
Total Units under HUD | 231 |
Total Units Section 8 | 231 |
% Rentals under Section 8 | 7.7% |
% Occupied Section 8 | 89.0% |
Section 8 Opportunity
| Home Size | HUD Premium | Market Rent | Max HUD Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $70 | $3,600 | $3,670 |
| 2 Bedroom | -$620 | $4,750 | $4,130 |
| 3 Bedroom | -$2,130 | $7,600 | $5,470 |
| 4 Bedroom | N/A | N/A | $6,090 |
Affordability — Santa Barbara, CA
Home Price to Income Ratio
| Metric | Zip Code Average |
|---|---|
| Home Price to Income Ratio | 17.1 |
| Median Home Price | $2,315,000 |
| Median Household Income | $127,000 |