County profile · California
Santa Barbara County, CA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Santa Barbara County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 442,065
- −1.4% since 2020
- Households
- 149,608
- Median household income
- $98,161
- +31.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $790,700
- Jobs located here
- 193,212
- Highest market score
- 77
- Funeral homes, #99 of 1,472 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Santa Barbara County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Santa Barbara County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 442,065 people live in Santa Barbara County, in 149,608 households. Population estimates put the population change in Santa Barbara County from 2020 to 2025 at −1.4%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in Santa Barbara County is $98,161 a year, 22% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 31.5% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Santa Barbara County spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 151, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (101).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Santa Barbara County are for funeral homes (77), oil change and quick-lube shops (75) and convenience stores (67). Santa Barbara County ranks #99 of 1,472 scored counties for funeral homes.
Santa Barbara County is part of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For its number of households, Santa Barbara County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for funeral homes (52% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Santa Barbara County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Santa Barbara County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funeral homes | 77 | #99 of 1,472 | 15 | 1.0 | $1.7M | 244 | 10 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 75 | #31 of 479 | 5 | 0.3 | $34.4M | 251 | 7 |
| Convenience stores | 67 | #513 of 2,261 | 95 | 6.3 | $10.3M | 130 | 39 |
| Gas stations | 66 | #510 of 2,358 | 126 | 8.4 | $3.3M | 140 | 88 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 65 | #342 of 1,461 | 39 | 2.6 | $4.4M | 172 | 37 |
| Home inspectors | 64 | #94 of 415 | 10 | 0.7 | Index only | 113 | 7 |
| Car washes and detailing | 64 | #355 of 1,451 | 41 | 2.7 | $4.2M | 167 | 28 |
| Tire shops | 63 | #437 of 1,530 | 47 | 3.1 | $3.7M | 146 | 28 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 59 | #447 of 1,302 | 71 | 4.7 | $3.1M | 98 | 20 |
| Hair salons | 59 | #726 of 2,339 | 317 | 21.2 | $539K | 125 | 83 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 58 | #476 of 1,327 | 46 | 3.1 | $3.7M | 121 | 43 |
| Child care and preschools | 57 | #619 of 1,611 | 89 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 147 | 147 |
| Pet businesses | 57 | #758 of 2,200 | 155 | 10.4 | $1.1M | 125 | 126 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #869 of 2,401 | 511 | 34.2 | $337K | 125 | 255 |
| Roofing and gutters | 54 | #496 of 1,177 | 41 | 2.7 | $11.8M | 139 | 51 |
| Veterinarians | 54 | #626 of 1,485 | 58 | 3.9 | $2.9M | 108 | 66 |
| Pizza | 54 | #850 of 2,090 | 101 | 6.8 | $6.7M | 132 | 420 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 53 | #142 of 325 | 7 | 0.5 | $31.1M | 127 | 17 |
| Physical therapy | 53 | #645 of 1,422 | 87 | 5.8 | $2.5M | 104 | 56 |
| Auto repair shops | 52 | #1,091 of 2,378 | 347 | 23.2 | $496K | 112 | 183 |
| Gyms | 51 | #864 of 1,792 | 153 | 10.2 | $1.4M | 107 | 76 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 50 | #1,122 of 2,222 | 190 | 12.7 | $3.6M | 117 | 420 |
| Pest control | 48 | #375 of 699 | 21 | 1.4 | $10.6M | 104 | 27 |
| Chiropractors | 48 | #799 of 1,490 | 94 | 6.3 | $2.3M | 97 | 55 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 48 | #924 of 1,707 | 101 | 6.8 | $4.8M | 100 | 185 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 48 | #1,279 of 2,402 | 307 | 20.5 | $3.2M | 94 | 162 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 47 | #750 of 1,334 | 104 | 7.0 | $2M | 101 | 70 |
| Barbershops | 47 | #783 of 1,356 | 99 | 6.6 | $1.7M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | 46 | #549 of 974 | 38 | 2.5 | $4.5M | 99 | 23 |
| Nail salons | 46 | #801 of 1,328 | 93 | 6.2 | $1.8M | 110 | 48 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 46 | #965 of 1,656 | 101 | 6.8 | $2.2M | 121 | 416 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #1,220 of 2,057 | 194 | 13.0 | $2.5M | 102 | 378 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 44 | #886 of 1,493 | 84 | 5.6 | $2.6M | 90 | 261 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 43 | #1,567 of 2,385 | 724 | 48.4 | $236K | 111 | 178 |
| Dry cleaners | 41 | #342 of 507 | 18 | 1.2 | $17.2M | 110 | 23 |
| House cleaning | 41 | #572 of 847 | 35 | 2.3 | $6.4M | 99 | 131 |
| Electricians | 41 | #793 of 1,160 | 52 | 3.5 | $9.3M | 77 | 142 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 41 | #1,447 of 2,088 | 345 | 23.1 | $615K | 93 | 146 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 40 | #1,250 of 1,771 | 140 | 9.4 | $1.6M | 95 | 419 |
| Grocery stores | 40 | #1,346 of 2,070 | 120 | 8.0 | $8.1M | 88 | 123 |
| Insurance agencies | 40 | #1,450 of 2,272 | 215 | 14.4 | $1.4M | 109 | 143 |
| Spas and skin care | 39 | #1,285 of 1,769 | 198 | 13.2 | $863K | 99 | 43 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 35 | #706 of 887 | 85 | 5.7 | Index only | 90 | 57 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 34 | #1,886 of 2,405 | 1,126 | 75.3 | $602K | 91 | 404 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 34 | #1,901 of 2,176 | 568 | 38.0 | Index only | 96 | 242 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 33 | #1,533 of 1,889 | 197 | 13.2 | $3.4M | 83 | 162 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 32 | #1,683 of 2,063 | 236 | 15.8 | $2.9M | 78 | 152 |
| Laundromats | 31 | #607 of 785 | 38 | 2.5 | $8.2M | 65 | 16 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 31 | #1,678 of 2,087 | 321 | 21.5 | $966K | 76 | 182 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 30 | #696 of 777 | 88 | 5.9 | $2.4M | 59 | 76 |
| Real estate | 30 | #2,073 of 2,229 | 748 | 50.0 | Index only | 92 | 569 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 30 | #2,087 of 2,394 | 1,569 | 104.9 | $139K | 91 | 804 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 29 | #1,662 of 1,886 | 247 | 16.5 | $881K | 90 | 240 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 29 | #2,076 of 2,405 | 2,331 | 155.8 | $291K | 78 | 979 |
| Property management | 28 | #809 of 910 | 85 | 5.7 | Index only | 63 | 219 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 28 | #1,895 of 2,210 | 460 | 30.7 | $674K | 77 | 221 |
Household spending in Santa Barbara County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $172.2M | $1,151 | 120 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $421.2M | $2,815 | 108 |
| Food away from home | $677.9M | $4,531 | 111 |
| Groceries | $976.3M | $6,526 | 103 |
| Personal care products and services | $170.9M | $1,142 | 114 |
| Child care and other personal services | $131.1M | $876 | 151 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $212.3M | $1,419 | 144 |
| Medical and dental services | $217.7M | $1,455 | 113 |
| Pets | $170.8M | $1,142 | 126 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $310.1M | $2,073 | 101 |
| Vehicle insurance | $295.1M | $1,972 | 101 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $482M | $3,222 | 107 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $222.3M | $1,486 | 105 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $3B | $19,884 | 119 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Santa Barbara County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 442,065−1.4% since 2020
- Households
- 149,608
- Median age
- 37.4
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 52%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 2,734 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 162
- Median household income
- $98,161+31.5% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $140,895
- Median home value
- $790,700
- Jobs located here
- 193,212
- Daytime population
- 452,081Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Santa Barbara County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Santa Barbara County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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Questions
How fast is Santa Barbara County, CA growing?
Population estimates put Santa Barbara County at 442,065 people in 2025, down 1.4% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 149,608 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 31.5%, before inflation.
How much do households in Santa Barbara County, CA spend?
Households in Santa Barbara County spend about $3B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $976.3M on groceries and $677.9M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Santa Barbara County runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 151, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (101).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Santa Barbara County, CA?
Of the business types scored in Santa Barbara County, funeral homes (77), oil change and quick-lube shops (75) and convenience stores (67) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For funeral homes, that ranks #99 of 1,472 scored counties.
How does Santa Barbara County, CA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Santa Barbara County is $98,161, 22% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.4% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $790,700, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for yoga, Pilates and fitness studios (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for funeral homes (52% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Santa Barbara County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Santa Barbara County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in California · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Santa Barbara County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Santa Barbara County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.