Starting Over In Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a scenic community isolated from most of its California neighbors. If you are heading to Santa Barbara, you will find one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.
Santa Barbara is a medium-sized city with an estimated 90,700 residents in 2005. The city serves as the county seat of Santa Barbara County. With surrounding communities, the metropolitan area has a population closer to 200,000. The entire community is sandwiched between the Santa Ynez mountains and the Santa Barbara Channel. More than half of the city's 43 square miles is water because city limits extend four miles into the Pacific Ocean. A blend of Mexican and American customs make the city unique. Spanish and English are both spoken. The majority of residents living in Santa Barbara are White non-Hispanic, about 58% of the population. Another 35% are Hispanic, well above the state average, while the African-American population is significantly low at just 2.4%. The average age of residents is near the national average of 36.4 years. Nearly 21% of the population are foreign born, mainly from Latin America.
Santa Barbara has been ranked as the fourth most expensive place to live in the country, according to CNN Money. The city has seen a big jump in home values since 2000 when the average home valued at $479,800. The median house value topped $1,000,000 in 2005, sending people away rather than heading to Santa Barbara. The home values are among the fastest appreciating in the country. The physical limitations of Santa Barbara's geography contribute to a higher than average cost of living. Areas of land on which to build have become scarce. Roughly three out of every five homes are inhabited by renters. Rent for a two-bed, two-bath apartment can exceed $2000. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners in 2005 was $3,024, non-mortgaged owners $476, and renters $1,231.
Well educated are Santa Barbara's residents with over 41% of adults 25 and older holding a Bachelor's degree. The number of college students living in the city is above average with the University of California-Santa Barbara educating nearing 20,000 full-time students yearly. Workers living in Santa Barbara are among the best paid in California. Median household income rose to $61,182 in 2005. Per Capita income was $34,563 and median family income was $82,035, much higher than the U.S. average of $55,832. The community has an economic base built around high-tech, education, agriculture, medicine, government and tourism. A great number of wineries operate in the area, producing high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine grapes command prices that are among the highest in the state. Santa Barbara was primarily known as a quiet, agricultural community before the depression of the 1930s created a large homeless population. Fewer residents were found to be poor in 2005 with 13.7% of city residents, a fraction above the national average. Of those living in poverty, 7.7% are White Non-Hispanic and 22.8% Hispanic.
The Santa Barbara coastline actually faces south rather than west, making for a Mediterranean type climate. The city is renowned for its warm weather, downtown beaches, Spanish architecture and mountain views. If you are heading to Santa Barbara, you will find plenty of weather conducive to improving your tan. Winter temperatures average about 56 degrees. High temperatures have historically averaged 77 degrees at the peak of summer. On an average summer day, a 20 minute drive over the mountains will find temperatures as high as 110 degrees in the valley. Santa Barbara enjoys a cooling maritime fog during the early hours of summer. The best time for sun worshippers is actually in the Fall. With the low humidity comes 18.8 inches of yearly precipitation. The Air quality Index finds 86.3% of the days in Santa Barbara with 'good air' to breathe.
Santa Barbara's strict sign ordinances have attempted to preserve the city's Spanish Colonial architecture, much of which was constructed after a devastating earthquake in 1925. The city is considered a safe place to live with its low rates of crime. But don't plan on leaving the doors unlocked, with a moderate risk for both personal and property crime. The 2005 FBI Crime Index of 294.7 finds Santa Barbara below the national average of 325.2. People who live and work in the city enjoy some very short commute times with an average 16.7 minute travel time to work, nearly 10 minutes below the national average. The city is linked to the rest of the central coast area by U.S. Route 101. Santa Barbara Airport offers commercial air service and Amtrak provides rail service that is slow but scenic. Greyhound Bus Lines also has stations in the area.
Santa Barbara is a medium-sized city with an estimated 90,700 residents in 2005. The city serves as the county seat of Santa Barbara County. With surrounding communities, the metropolitan area has a population closer to 200,000. The entire community is sandwiched between the Santa Ynez mountains and the Santa Barbara Channel. More than half of the city's 43 square miles is water because city limits extend four miles into the Pacific Ocean. A blend of Mexican and American customs make the city unique. Spanish and English are both spoken. The majority of residents living in Santa Barbara are White non-Hispanic, about 58% of the population. Another 35% are Hispanic, well above the state average, while the African-American population is significantly low at just 2.4%. The average age of residents is near the national average of 36.4 years. Nearly 21% of the population are foreign born, mainly from Latin America.
Santa Barbara has been ranked as the fourth most expensive place to live in the country, according to CNN Money. The city has seen a big jump in home values since 2000 when the average home valued at $479,800. The median house value topped $1,000,000 in 2005, sending people away rather than heading to Santa Barbara. The home values are among the fastest appreciating in the country. The physical limitations of Santa Barbara's geography contribute to a higher than average cost of living. Areas of land on which to build have become scarce. Roughly three out of every five homes are inhabited by renters. Rent for a two-bed, two-bath apartment can exceed $2000. The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners in 2005 was $3,024, non-mortgaged owners $476, and renters $1,231.
Well educated are Santa Barbara's residents with over 41% of adults 25 and older holding a Bachelor's degree. The number of college students living in the city is above average with the University of California-Santa Barbara educating nearing 20,000 full-time students yearly. Workers living in Santa Barbara are among the best paid in California. Median household income rose to $61,182 in 2005. Per Capita income was $34,563 and median family income was $82,035, much higher than the U.S. average of $55,832. The community has an economic base built around high-tech, education, agriculture, medicine, government and tourism. A great number of wineries operate in the area, producing high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine grapes command prices that are among the highest in the state. Santa Barbara was primarily known as a quiet, agricultural community before the depression of the 1930s created a large homeless population. Fewer residents were found to be poor in 2005 with 13.7% of city residents, a fraction above the national average. Of those living in poverty, 7.7% are White Non-Hispanic and 22.8% Hispanic.
The Santa Barbara coastline actually faces south rather than west, making for a Mediterranean type climate. The city is renowned for its warm weather, downtown beaches, Spanish architecture and mountain views. If you are heading to Santa Barbara, you will find plenty of weather conducive to improving your tan. Winter temperatures average about 56 degrees. High temperatures have historically averaged 77 degrees at the peak of summer. On an average summer day, a 20 minute drive over the mountains will find temperatures as high as 110 degrees in the valley. Santa Barbara enjoys a cooling maritime fog during the early hours of summer. The best time for sun worshippers is actually in the Fall. With the low humidity comes 18.8 inches of yearly precipitation. The Air quality Index finds 86.3% of the days in Santa Barbara with 'good air' to breathe.
Santa Barbara's strict sign ordinances have attempted to preserve the city's Spanish Colonial architecture, much of which was constructed after a devastating earthquake in 1925. The city is considered a safe place to live with its low rates of crime. But don't plan on leaving the doors unlocked, with a moderate risk for both personal and property crime. The 2005 FBI Crime Index of 294.7 finds Santa Barbara below the national average of 325.2. People who live and work in the city enjoy some very short commute times with an average 16.7 minute travel time to work, nearly 10 minutes below the national average. The city is linked to the rest of the central coast area by U.S. Route 101. Santa Barbara Airport offers commercial air service and Amtrak provides rail service that is slow but scenic. Greyhound Bus Lines also has stations in the area.