HomeCaliforniaSanta Barbara County
Santa Barbara County, California: commercial real estate data.
Santa Barbara County, California has a population of 443,701 across 2,735 square miles, down 0.8 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $41.42 bn in 2024, 12,484 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 423 7(a) approvals worth $276.1 m.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Santa Barbara County
How many people live in Santa Barbara County
- Population443,701
- Households149,608
- Average household size2.97
- Median household income$98,161
- Median age34.6
- Median gross rent$2,131 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$790,700
- Home value to household income8.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income26.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher36.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree14.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over278,364
- Population under 1899,399
- Share under 1822.4 percent
- Population 65 and over73,710
- Share 65 and over16.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64270,592
- Civilian labor force219,992
- Unemployment rate6.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.9 percent
- Rank by population among California counties20th of 58
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents164th
Santa Barbara County is the 20th largest of 58 California counties by population. A median home costs 8.1 times median household income, which is a stretched ownership market and usually shows up as rental demand. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.4 percent against 16.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Santa Barbara County
Is Santa Barbara County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.83 percent
- Census 2020 base population448,217
- Births, 20245,563
- Deaths, 20243,458
- Natural change, 20242,105
- Net domestic migration, 2024-4,612
- Net international migration, 20243,487
- Total net migration, 2024-1,125
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-20,261
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2128th
The county has lost 0.83 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. Births exceeded deaths in 2024 but more people left than arrived, so the population is being sustained internally rather than attracting.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Santa Barbara County
Where people moving to Santa Barbara County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving7,989
- People arriving, from those returns12,591
- Adjusted gross income arriving$1.35 bn
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$169,326
- Largest single originSanta Barbara County Non-migrants (168,570 households)
- Largest single destination (168,570 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara County Non-migrants | 168,570 | 335,835 | $20.19 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 1,909 | 3,083 | $247.7 m |
| Los Angeles County | 1,126 | 1,664 | $220.7 m |
| San Luis Obispo County | 709 | 1,229 | $53.3 m |
| Other flows - South | 699 | 1,205 | $69.3 m |
| Ventura County | 632 | 998 | $64.6 m |
| Other flows - West | 594 | 942 | $63.4 m |
| Other flows - Midwest | 346 | 525 | $72.2 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Santa Barbara County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Santa Barbara County
What the Santa Barbara County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$41.42 bn
- County GDP, 2023$38.64 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.2 percent
- GDP change over five years33.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among California counties16th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents144th
- GDP per resident$93,361
Output grew 7.2 percent in the latest year and 33.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Santa Barbara County
Who employs people in Santa Barbara County
- Covered employment, annual average216,323
- Establishments reporting17,497
- Average annual pay$69,664
- Average weekly wage$1,340
- Sector 11, employment29,638
- Sector 11, average annual pay$40,579
- Sector 62, employment28,097
- Sector 62, average annual pay$69,623
- Sector 72, employment24,101
- Sector 72, average annual pay$35,120
- Sector 44-45, employment18,374
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$43,516
- Sector 31-33, employment12,476
- Sector 54, employment12,190
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 11 | 29,638 | 563 | $40,579 |
| Sector 62 | 28,097 | 5,262 | $69,623 |
| Sector 72 | 24,101 | 1,208 | $35,120 |
| Sector 44-45 | 18,374 | 1,418 | $43,516 |
| Sector 31-33 | 12,476 | 597 | $97,824 |
| Sector 54 | 12,190 | 1,686 | $141,459 |
| Sector 23 | 10,344 | 1,384 | $73,380 |
| Sector 56 | 9,856 | 764 | $51,108 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 29,638 jobs, 13.7 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Santa Barbara County
What businesses operate in Santa Barbara County
- Establishments, all industries12,484
- Employment at those establishments160,460
- Annual payroll$11.08 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents28.1
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Santa Barbara County
What is being built in Santa Barbara County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024750
- Declared construction value permitted$302.2 m
- Single family units authorised481
- Multifamily units authorised269
- Multifamily share of units35.9 percent
- Average declared value per unit$402,922
- Units authorised per 1,000 households5.0
Multifamily is 35.9 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is predominantly for sale product.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Santa Barbara County
How much SBA lending happens in Santa Barbara County
- 7(a) approvals recorded423
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$276.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$652,617
- Median 7(a) approval$275,000
- 10th percentile approval$49,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,795,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,698
- Jobs per approval11.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active77
- Distinct industries receiving approvals170
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms83
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter325
- Franchise loans28
- Franchise share of approvals6.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (23)
- Most active lenderAmerican Riviera Bank (47)
- 504 approvals recorded248
- 504 gross approval dollars$228.0 m
- Average 504 approval$919,266
- Median 504 approval$612,000
- Distinct CDCs active14
- 504 jobs per approval13.7
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved15.0
- Most active CDCCen Cal Business Finance Group (73)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals63.0 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$504.0 m
The average approval of $652,617 sits well above the median of $275,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 19.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Santa Barbara County
Do SBA loans in Santa Barbara County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded78
- Paid in full72
- Charged off6
- Charge off rate on resolved loans7.7 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure255
- Status: Charged off6
- Status: Paid in full72
- Status: Cancelled68
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed22
Of the 78 loans that have reached a final outcome, 7.7 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Santa Barbara County
Which parts of Santa Barbara County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending17
- SANTA BARBARA, approvals167
- SANTA MARIA, approvals103
- LOMPOC, approvals38
- GOLETA, approvals35
- CARPINTERIA, approvals28
- BUELLTON, approvals17
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| SANTA BARBARA | 167 | $112,632,600 |
| SANTA MARIA | 103 | $76,211,600 |
| LOMPOC | 38 | $20,175,500 |
| GOLETA | 35 | $20,227,900 |
| CARPINTERIA | 28 | $7,329,500 |
| BUELLTON | 17 | $17,408,200 |
| SOLVANG | 10 | $7,294,600 |
| SANTA YNEZ | 8 | $7,544,300 |
SANTA BARBARA accounts for 167 approvals against 103 in SANTA MARIA. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Santa Barbara County
How big is Santa Barbara County
- Land area2,735 sq mi
- Rank by land area among California counties21st of 58
- Width, east to west70.4 mi
- Height, north to south84.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land162
- Establishments per square mile4.56
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Santa Barbara County
What hazards affect Santa Barbara County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
The EPA places the county in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Santa Barbara County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Santa Barbara County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population443,701
- Households149,608
- Average household size2.97
- Median household income$98,161
- Median age34.6
Common questions
Santa Barbara County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Santa Barbara County, California?
443,701, in 149,608 households, ranking 20th of 58 California counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Santa Barbara County growing?
The population has fallen 0.83 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 5,563 births against 3,458 deaths, with net migration of -1,125. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Santa Barbara County?
$98,161. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $790,700, which is 8.1 times income, and median gross rent is $2,131 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Santa Barbara County?
12,484 establishments, employing 160,460 people with an annual payroll of $11.08 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Santa Barbara County?
Average annual pay is $69,664, or $1,340 a week, across 216,323 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Santa Barbara County?
423 7(a) approvals totalling $276.1 m since FY2020, across 77 lenders, with a median approval of $275,000, plus 248 504 approvals worth $228.0 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Santa Barbara County get paid back?
Of the 78 loans that have reached a final outcome, 72 were paid in full and 6 charged off, a charge off rate of 7.7 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Santa Barbara County?
750 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $302.2 m. Multifamily was 35.9 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Santa Barbara County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Santa Barbara County come from?
The largest single origin is Santa Barbara County Non-migrants, with 168,570 households. Arriving households report an average income of $169,326 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Santa Barbara County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Santa Barbara County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.