Census-designated place · California
Eastern Goleta Valley, California
Eastern Goleta Valley, census-designated place, in Santa Barbara County, California. Eastern Goleta Valley had 28,295 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,514). GEOID 0620574.
Residents, 2020-2024
28,295
±1,514 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 28,656
Median household income
$146,284
±$7,208 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$1,361,700
±$86,533 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,964
±$327 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Eastern Goleta Valley and what county is it in?
Eastern Goleta Valley is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Santa Barbara County, California. It covers 16.6 square miles of land, 1,728 residents per square mile in 2020.
Eastern Goleta Valley is in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Eastern Goleta Valley, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Eastern Goleta Valley's population at 28,295 (±1,514). The 2020 Census counted 28,656 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Eastern Goleta Valley is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Eastern Goleta Valley | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 28,295±1,514 | 443,701 | – |
| Households | 10,297±507 | 149,608 | – |
| Average household size | 2.66±0.11 | 2.81 | – |
| Housing units | 10,884±518 | 160,592 | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Eastern Goleta Valley?
The median resident of Eastern Goleta Valley is 45.7 years old; 20.0% are under 18 and 24.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.1%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 26.0%. 16.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Eastern Goleta Valley | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7±2.3 | 34.6 | – |
| Under 18 years | 20.0%±1.8 pts | 22.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.5%±2.0 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 51.7%±1.8 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26.0%±3.1 pts | 48.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.1%±3.1 pts | 40.6% | – |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.4%±0.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.8%±1.1 pts | 5.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4%±1.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 16.1%±2.1 pts | 22.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.4%±3.0 pts | 40.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.3%±0.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| With a disability | 10.8%±1.3 pts | 11.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.6%±1.4 pts | 8.7% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.8%±1.6 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 54.1%±3.4 pts | 36.8% | – |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.3%±2.3 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.7%±2.0 pts | 84.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.3%±0.7 pts | 1.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Eastern Goleta Valley earn?
Half of Eastern Goleta Valley's 10,297 households earn less than $146,284 a year (±$7,208), against $98,161 in Santa Barbara County and $99,122 in California. 7.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Eastern Goleta Valley | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $146,284±$7,208 | $98,161 | – |
| Mean household income | $198,259±$11,891 | $140,893 | – |
| Per capita income | $72,713±$5,163 | $48,028 | – |
| People below the poverty line | 7.9%±2.0 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.4%±3.9 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7%±1.7 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.6%±1.2 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.9%±1.8 pts | 92.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Eastern Goleta Valley?
Owners occupy 74.6% of Eastern Goleta Valley's occupied homes and renters 25.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,361,700 by its owner (±$86,533). The median renter pays $2,964 a month including utilities, and 31.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Eastern Goleta Valley | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,361,700±$86,533 | $790,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $2,964±$327 | $2,131 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 31.1%±6.5 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $2,973 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 74.6%±3.3 pts | 52.4% | – |
| Renter-occupied homes | 25.4%±3.3 pts | 47.6% | – |
| Housing units | 10,884±518 | 160,592 | – |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.8%±3.9 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 65.5%±3.5 pts | 56.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.3%±2.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.2%±1.0 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 3.3%±1.5 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.1%±1.3 pts | 5.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Eastern Goleta Valley work and get to work?
62.0% of Eastern Goleta Valley's workers drive alone and 24.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.9%.
| Measure | Eastern Goleta Valley | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.1%±2.7 pts | 62.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9%±1.4 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 62.0%±3.8 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.3%±2.1 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.3%±1.5 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±1.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 24.9%±3.4 pts | 13.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.3 min±1.1 | 20.8 min | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Eastern Goleta Valley?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Eastern Goleta Valley, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $90,375 (Tract 1.01) to $223,036 (Tract 1.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1.01Santa Barbara County | 5,769 | $90,375 |
| Tract 30.04Santa Barbara County | 4,734 | $139,063 |
| Tract 30.05Santa Barbara County | 4,121 | $120,086 |
| Tract 29.13Santa Barbara County | 4,167 | $126,375 |
| Tract 30.07Santa Barbara County | 3,166 | $147,939 |
| Tract 29.07Santa Barbara County | 4,096 | $194,896 |
| Tract 1.03Santa Barbara County | 3,990 | $223,036 |
| Tract 1.02Santa Barbara County | 4,830 | $134,896 |
| Tract 30.01Santa Barbara County | 6,254 | $93,284 |
| Tract 29.14Santa Barbara County | 3,088 | $134,531 |
| Tract 9800Santa Barbara County | 0 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Eastern Goleta Valley) · Census block assignment files
How does Eastern Goleta Valley compare with other places in California?
Eastern Goleta Valley ranks 155th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 278th | 1,076 |
| Residents per square mile | 629th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 155th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 181st | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 119th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 102nd | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 595th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 196th | 988 |
| Median age | 279th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 349th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 200th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 1,038th | 1,069 |
Eastern Goleta Valley's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Eastern Goleta Valley with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Eastern Goleta Valley?
8 of the 57 figures for Eastern Goleta Valley on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Eastern Goleta Valley are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.