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Ballard, CA
Census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California.
Population
863
Land area
2.8sq mi
People per sq mi
309
ZIP codes
0
Ballard and its ZIP codes
Ballard at a glance
- The median household income is $140,833, 42% above the California median of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $1,742,200 (about 2.4 times the California figure) and median rent is $2,563 a month.
Local data for Ballard, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Ballard, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$140,833
Poverty rate
15.2%
Median home value
$1,742,200
Median rent
$2,563/mo
Homeownership
73.2%
Bachelor's or higher
53.0%
Median age
42.3
Average commute
38.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Scottish Americans (149), French Americans (110), German Americans (93).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Santa Barbara County. PPP loans are for Ballard.
Unemployment rate
4.6%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$73,064
214,947 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$88,347
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$3.22B
FY 2026, $7,173 per person
How people get to work
Ballard, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone46.3%
- Carpooled6.4%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked3.2%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other8.9%
- Worked from home35.1%
Average one-way commute: 38.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ballard, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
208
Countywide, mostly flash flood
Flood insurance policies
2,383
1.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
92° / 34°F
21.1 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ballard, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
25.1%
U.S. 33.3% -8.2 pts
Diabetes
10.8%
U.S. 12.1% -1.3 pts
Smoking
9.7%
U.S. 12.8% -3.1 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.1%
U.S. 11.1% -5.0 pts
Cities near Ballard
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Santa YnezCensus-designated place | 1.9 mi | 4.8 |
| Los OlivosCensus-designated place | 2.1 mi | 2.6 |
| SolvangCity | 4.4 mi | 2.4 |
| BuelltonCity | 5.5 mi | 1.6 |
| Los AlamosCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.9 |
| SisquocCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 2.2 |
| Mission HillsCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 1.2 |
| GoletaCity | 19 mi | 7.9 |
| LompocCity | 20 mi | 11.6 |
| Vandenberg VillageCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 5.3 |
| GareyCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 1.3 |
| Isla VistaCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 0.6 |
| University of California-Santa BarbaraCensus-designated place | 21 mi | 1.3 |
| Eastern Goleta ValleyCensus-designated place | 23 mi | 16.6 |
| Vandenberg AFBCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 22.4 |
| OrcuttCensus-designated place | 25 mi | 10.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ballard, CA in?
- Ballard is in Santa Barbara County, California.
- What is the population of Ballard, CA?
- About 863 people live in Ballard, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ballard?
- Nearby places include Santa Ynez (1.9 mi), Los Olivos (2.1 mi), Solvang (4.4 mi), Buellton (5.5 mi), Los Alamos (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023