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Isla Vista, CA

Census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California.

Population

13,920

Land area

0.6sq mi

People per sq mi

25,253

ZIP codes

0

Isla Vista and its ZIP codes

Full map

Isla Vista at a glance

  • Isla Vista is about 100 times as dense as California as a whole.
  • Households here earn a median of $25,972 a year, 74% less than the California figure of $99,122.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $1,218,800 (66% above California) and median rent is $1,878 a month.

Local data for Isla Vista, CA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Isla Vista, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$25,972

Poverty rate

70.4%

Median home value

$1,218,800

Median rent

$1,878/mo

Homeownership

1.2%

Bachelor's or higher

43.7%

Median age

21.2

Average commute

15.6 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (2,158), German Americans (1,353), Italian Americans (1,033).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Santa Barbara County. PPP loans are for Isla Vista.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.5%

Sep 2026, -0.1 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$73,064

214,947 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$88,347

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$3.2B

FY 2026, $7,173 per person

Santa Barbara County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Isla Vista, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone50.0%
  • Carpooled3.2%
  • Public transit2.8%
  • Walked19.3%
  • Bicycle12.8%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.4%
  • Worked from home9.4%

Average one-way commute: 15.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Isla Vista, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

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

71° / 43°F

19.0 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Isla Vista, CA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

24.5%

U.S. 33.3% -8.8 pts

Diabetes

5.0%

U.S. 12.1% -7.1 pts

Smoking

12.5%

U.S. 12.8% about the same

Uninsured (18-64)

12.2%

U.S. 11.1% +1.1 pts

Cities near Isla Vista

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
University of California-Santa BarbaraCensus-designated place0.9 mi1.3
GoletaCity1.8 mi7.9
Eastern Goleta ValleyCensus-designated place5 mi16.6
Mission CanyonCensus-designated place9.1 mi1.8
Santa BarbaraCity9.7 mi19.5
MontecitoCensus-designated place13 mi9.2
SummerlandCensus-designated place15 mi1.4
Toro CanyonCensus-designated place17 mi9.4
Santa YnezCensus-designated place19 mi4.8
CarpinteriaCity20 mi2.6
SolvangCity20 mi2.4
BallardCensus-designated place21 mi2.8
Los OlivosCensus-designated place23 mi2.6
BuelltonCity24 mi1.6

Frequently asked questions

What county is Isla Vista, CA in?
Isla Vista is in Santa Barbara County, California.
What is the population of Isla Vista, CA?
About 13,920 people live in Isla Vista, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Isla Vista?
Nearby places include University of California-Santa Barbara (0.9 mi), Goleta (1.8 mi), Eastern Goleta Valley (5 mi), Mission Canyon (9.1 mi), Santa Barbara (9.7 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023

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