Signals
University of California-Santa Barbara
Isla Vista
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs46 · Bottom 28%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
20 · Bottom 13%
vs20 · Bottom 13%
Housing affordability
50 · Bottom 10%
vs0 · Bottom 1%
Access
74 · Bottom 16%
vs74 · Bottom 16%
Economic stability
31 · Bottom 8%
vs29 · Bottom 6%
Measured values
| Metric | University of California-Santa Barbara | Isla Vista | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,121 | 13,920 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,327 | $25,972 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $17,245 | $14,110 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 9,324/sq mi | 25,263/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $452,900 | $1,218,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,526 | $1,878 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 14.7% | 1.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 80.6% | 43.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.5% | 70.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 73°F | 71°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 43°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 17.3" | 19.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 48 mi | 48 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 15.8 min | 17.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 20.0 | 21.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
University of California-Santa Barbara
Elevated or high exposure: landslide, drought, earthquake.
Isla Vista
Elevated or high exposure: landslide, drought, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
University of California-Santa Barbara
54
Your Score
—
Area Score
Isla Vista
43
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: University of California-Santa Barbara, CA · Isla Vista, CA · How this is calculated: methodology