Metro area profile · California
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, each scored against other metro areas.
- 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
- Oil change and quick lube, #17 of 290 scored metro areas
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, in 149,608 households. Population estimates put the population change in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area from 2020 to 2025 at −1.4%, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median household income in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area are for oil change and quick-lube shops (77), funeral homes (75) and gas stations (65). The Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area ranks #17 of 290 scored metro areas for oil change and quick-lube shops.
The Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area is made up of one county, Santa Barbara County. For its number of households, the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area with other metro areas 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 metro areas | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil change and quick lube | 77 | #17 of 290 | 5 | 0.3 | $34.4M | 251 | 7 |
| Funeral homes | 75 | #45 of 377 | 15 | 1.0 | $1.7M | 244 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 65 | #98 of 387 | 126 | 8.4 | $3.3M | 140 | 88 |
| Home inspectors | 64 | #48 of 243 | 10 | 0.7 | Index only | 113 | 7 |
| Hair salons | 64 | #63 of 387 | 317 | 21.2 | $539K | 125 | 83 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 61 | #109 of 386 | 39 | 2.6 | $4.4M | 172 | 37 |
| Car washes and detailing | 61 | #112 of 387 | 41 | 2.7 | $4.2M | 167 | 28 |
| Convenience stores | 59 | #136 of 387 | 95 | 6.3 | $10.3M | 130 | 39 |
| Tire shops | 58 | #146 of 386 | 47 | 3.1 | $3.7M | 146 | 28 |
| Auto repair and car care | 57 | #140 of 387 | 511 | 34.2 | $337K | 125 | 255 |
| Child care and preschools | 55 | #159 of 387 | 89 | 5.9 | $1.5M | 147 | 147 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 53 | #169 of 386 | 71 | 4.7 | $3.1M | 98 | 20 |
| Pet businesses | 53 | #170 of 387 | 155 | 10.4 | $1.1M | 125 | 126 |
| Pizza | 52 | #171 of 387 | 101 | 6.8 | $6.7M | 132 | 420 |
| Roofing and gutters | 52 | #173 of 381 | 41 | 2.7 | $11.8M | 139 | 51 |
| Physical therapy | 52 | #176 of 386 | 87 | 5.8 | $2.5M | 104 | 56 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 52 | #183 of 381 | 46 | 3.1 | $3.7M | 121 | 43 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 51 | #95 of 197 | 7 | 0.5 | $31.1M | 127 | 17 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #193 of 387 | 724 | 48.4 | $236K | 111 | 178 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 50 | #193 of 387 | 190 | 12.7 | $3.6M | 117 | 420 |
| Auto repair shops | 49 | #206 of 387 | 347 | 23.2 | $496K | 112 | 183 |
| Veterinarians | 48 | #207 of 384 | 58 | 3.9 | $2.9M | 108 | 66 |
| Gyms | 48 | #208 of 387 | 153 | 10.2 | $1.4M | 107 | 76 |
| Pest control | 46 | #194 of 345 | 21 | 1.4 | $10.6M | 104 | 27 |
| Home repair trades | 46 | #219 of 387 | 194 | 13.0 | $2.5M | 102 | 378 |
| Barbershops | 46 | #235 of 387 | 99 | 6.6 | $1.7M | 92 | Under 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 43 | #230 of 387 | 215 | 14.4 | $1.4M | 109 | 143 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 43 | #252 of 387 | 101 | 6.8 | $2.2M | 121 | 416 |
| Nail salons | 43 | #256 of 387 | 93 | 6.2 | $1.8M | 110 | 48 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 43 | #258 of 387 | 104 | 7.0 | $2M | 101 | 70 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 42 | #239 of 387 | 140 | 9.4 | $1.6M | 95 | 419 |
| Chiropractors | 42 | #248 of 386 | 94 | 6.3 | $2.3M | 97 | 55 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 42 | #255 of 387 | 101 | 6.8 | $4.8M | 100 | 185 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 41 | #241 of 385 | 84 | 5.6 | $2.6M | 90 | 261 |
| House cleaning | 41 | #259 of 375 | 35 | 2.3 | $6.4M | 99 | 131 |
| Pet stores | 40 | #264 of 382 | 38 | 2.5 | $4.5M | 99 | 23 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 40 | #285 of 387 | 345 | 23.1 | $615K | 93 | 146 |
| Spas and skin care | 38 | #308 of 387 | 198 | 13.2 | $863K | 99 | 43 |
| Dry cleaners | 37 | #202 of 272 | 18 | 1.2 | $17.2M | 110 | 23 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 37 | #286 of 387 | 307 | 20.5 | $3.2M | 94 | 162 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 37 | #309 of 387 | 568 | 38.0 | Index only | 96 | 242 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 33 | #325 of 387 | 1,569 | 104.9 | $139K | 91 | 804 |
| Electricians | 33 | #330 of 383 | 52 | 3.5 | $9.3M | 77 | 142 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 33 | #335 of 373 | 85 | 5.7 | Index only | 90 | 57 |
| Real estate | 32 | #356 of 387 | 748 | 50.0 | Index only | 92 | 569 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 29 | #347 of 387 | 197 | 13.2 | $3.4M | 83 | 162 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 29 | #351 of 387 | 1,126 | 75.3 | $602K | 91 | 404 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 28 | #324 of 387 | 321 | 21.5 | $966K | 76 | 182 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 28 | #349 of 387 | 236 | 15.8 | $2.9M | 78 | 152 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 27 | #354 of 387 | 247 | 16.5 | $881K | 90 | 240 |
| Grocery stores | 26 | #339 of 387 | 120 | 8.0 | $8.1M | 88 | 123 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 25 | #344 of 387 | 460 | 30.7 | $674K | 77 | 221 |
| Property management | 25 | #365 of 374 | 85 | 5.7 | Index only | 63 | 219 |
| Laundromats | 24 | #332 of 364 | 38 | 2.5 | $8.2M | 65 | 16 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 24 | #339 of 347 | 88 | 5.9 | $2.4M | 59 | 76 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 24 | #361 of 387 | 2,331 | 155.8 | $291K | 78 | 979 |
Household spending in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area
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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area
- 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area?
These figures cover the whole metro area. 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 1
- Santa Barbara County, CA443,701 people
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Questions
How fast is the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area growing?
Population estimates put the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area spend?
Households in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area?
Of the business types scored in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, oil change and quick-lube shops (77), funeral homes (75) and gas stations (65) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For oil change and quick-lube shops, that ranks #17 of 290 scored metro areas.
How does the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, each ranked against other metro areas.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. 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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area?
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 the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. 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.