Isla Vista

Population: 13,717
Median household income: $24,428
Median home value: $1,241,700

Isla Vista, a community in Santa Barbara County, California, has 13,717 residents. The median household income of $24,428 is below the Santa Barbara County median ($95,977).

From 2019 to 2023, Isla Vista's population declined 50.5% from 27,707 to 13,717, while its median home value rose 166.1% from $466,700 to $1,241,700.

Households average 2.61 people. The median gross rent is $1,856.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 13,717
Median age: 21.2 yrs
Median household income: $24,428
Median home value: $1,241,700
Median gross rent: $1,856
Housing units: 5,166
Homeownership rate: 1.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 40.8%
Unemployment rate: 17.1%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

27,70713,717

Median household income

$24,545$24,428

Median home value

$466,700$1,241,700

Median gross rent

$1,503$1,856

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	27,707	$24,545	$466,700	$1,503
2020	15,733	$21,018	—	$1,662
2021	15,732	$22,386	—	$1,773
2022	14,722	$23,121	$1,078,100	$1,851
2023	13,717	$24,428	$1,241,700	$1,856

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 50.2%

5 to 172.7%

18 to 2484.7%

25 to 346.1%

35 to 441.4%

45 to 541.7%

55 to 640.9%

65 to 741.5%

75 and over0.9%

	Count	Share
Under 5	27	0.2%
5 to 17	366	2.7%
18 to 24	11,620	84.7%
25 to 34	833	6.1%
35 to 44	192	1.4%
45 to 54	228	1.7%
55 to 64	127	0.9%
65 to 74	207	1.5%
75 and over	117	0.9%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	7,296	53.2%
Black or African American	661	4.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	0	0.0%
Asian	2,043	14.9%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	21	0.2%
Some other race	36	0.3%
Two or more races	459	3.3%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	3,201	23.3%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma9.4%

High school graduate19.0%

Some college or associate's30.9%

Bachelor's degree20.8%

Graduate or professional degree20.0%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	160	9.4%
High school graduate	323	19.0%
Some college or associate's	526	30.9%
Bachelor's degree	355	20.8%
Graduate or professional degree	340	20.0%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 16 min

Drove alone50.6%

Carpooled4.6%

Public transit3.5%

Walked17.2%

Bicycle13.1%

Worked from home8.3%

Other means2.8%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	3,224	50.6%
Carpooled	290	4.6%
Public transit	220	3.5%
Walked	1,097	17.2%
Bicycle	831	13.1%
Worked from home	527	8.3%
Other means	177	2.8%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	2,846	48.7%
15 to 29 min	2,383	40.8%
30 to 44 min	428	7.3%
45 to 59 min	50	0.9%
60+ min	132	2.3%

Households

Average household size: 2.61
Poverty rate: 69.3% (8,312 of 11,995)

	Count	Share
Family households	430	9.4%
Nonfamily households	4,159	90.6%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1975

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	4,589	88.8%
Vacant	577	11.2%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	45	1.0%
Renter-occupied	4,544	99.0%

1-unit, detached5.1%

1-unit, attached3.7%

2 to 4 units19.9%

5 to 19 units37.5%

20 or more units33.8%

Mobile home & other0.0%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	266	5.1%
1-unit, attached	192	3.7%
2 to 4 units	1,026	19.9%
5 to 19 units	1,935	37.5%
20 or more units	1,747	33.8%
Mobile home & other	0	0.0%

Geography

Place GEOID: 0636868
Type (LSAD): 57
Land area: 0.55 sq mi
Water area: 0.04 sq mi
Center point: 34.4122, -119.8607