City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Carpinteria, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Carpinteria - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

13,100
Residents
$104,233
Median income
$965,200
Median home
$2,693
Median rent (state)

Carpinteria - the verdict

Nationally, Carpinteria sits in the 80th percentile for household income and the 44th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

80th
percentile, household income
97th
percentile, home value
94th
percentile, median rent
44th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Carpinteria, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 13,100 residents in Carpinteria, a small town within California. Median household income here is $104,233 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.9%. Carpinteria's housing stock carries a median value of $965,200, and the median resident age is 44.5 years. About 44.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 37 residential building permits were authorized in Carpinteria (Growing), up 9% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Carpinteria reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1560.0 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,693 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Carpinteria report an average commute of 20.0 minutes, with 63.2% driving alone and 14.2% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

13,100 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$104,233 /yr

Poverty 3.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Carpinteria compare to other US cities?

Carpinteria measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 97% pricier than other cities
Median rent 94% pricier than other cities
Safety 44% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Carpinteria ranks #156 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Carpinteria against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Carpinteria toward the top of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Carpinteria ranks #256 - the 81st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Carpinteria only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#463 of 1,338
65th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#467 of 1,458
66th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#256 of 1,343
81st percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#955 of 1,450
34th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#344 of 1,458
76th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

80thIncome percentile
44thSafety percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income · 44th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Carpinteria's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Carpinteria's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Carpinteria's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Carpinteria's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$965,200 3rd percentile more affordable than 3% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Carpinteria $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Carpinteria, CA Carpinteria, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Carpinteria, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Carpinteria, CA median $104,233/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Carpinteria, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Carpinteria, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 44.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
13,100
Median Income
$104,233
Median Home Value
$965,200
Median Age
44.5
Poverty Rate
3.9%
Labor force participation
62.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
44.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1560.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
189.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1370.9
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
12,600 residents12,800 residents13,000 residents13,200 residents13,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 13,246 residents 12,734 residents ▼ -3.9%
Carpinteria's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
37
housing units authorized
Single-Family
13
detached homes
Multifamily
24
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 34
2020 16
2021 9
2022 1
2023 10
2024 37

Permit volume increased 9% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
20.0 minutes
Drive Alone
63.2%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
2.7%
Walk
6.2%
Work from Home
14.2%
Other
3.3%

Based on 6,501 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Carpinteria sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,693/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Grand Terrace
13,069 people
Palos Verdes Estates
13,047 people
El Sobrante CDP (Riverside County)
13,206 people
Avocado Heights
12,934 people
North Fair Oaks
13,327 people
Bonita
13,336 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Carpinteria's 13,100 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cambridge, MD
13,094 people
Dover, OH
13,094 people
Lake Station, IN
13,109 people
North Palm Beach, FL
13,089 people
Soddy-Daisy, TN
13,117 people
Viera East, FL
13,082 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Carpinteria's $104,233 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

McClellanville, SC
$104,236 median income
Hickman, NE
$104,219 median income
Annapolis, MD
$104,257 median income
Spaulding, IL
$104,205 median income
Casper Mountain, WY
$104,265 median income
Sweetwater, NJ
$104,191 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Carpinteria, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Carpinteria, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 58.4% 21.9% 15.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 43.4% White 58.4% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 3.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 21.9% Two or more races 15.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Carpinteria compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Carpinteria (this city) 13,100 $104,233
Grand Terrace 13,069 $83,668
Palos Verdes Estates 13,047 $247,500
El Sobrante CDP (Riverside County) 13,206 $160,331
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Carpinteria, CA?

What is the population of Carpinteria, CA? +

Carpinteria, CA counts 13,100 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Carpinteria, CA? +

The median household income in Carpinteria is $104,233 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Carpinteria? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Carpinteria; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Carpinteria, CA safe? +

Carpinteria has a total crime rate of 1560.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Carpinteria, CA? +

Homes in Carpinteria carry a median value of $965,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.