City · California
Goleta, California
Goleta, city, in Santa Barbara County, California. Goleta had 32,401 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 32,690 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 32,685 (±44). GEOID 0630378.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
32,401
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 32,690 · ACS 2020-2024: 32,685 ±44
Median household income
$122,370
±$8,547 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$1,062,100
±$29,586 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,437
±$120 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Goleta and what county is it in?
Goleta is a city in Santa Barbara County, California. It covers 7.9 square miles of land, 4,163 residents per square mile in 2020.
Goleta 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 Goleta, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 32,401 people lived in Goleta on July 1, 2025, down 0.9% since 2020, in line with California (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 32,690 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 32,685 (±44).
| Measure | Goleta | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 32,685 ±44 | 443,701 | +1,710 |
| Households | 12,348 ±386 | 149,608 | +1,329 |
| Average household size | 2.63 ±0.08 | 2.81 | −0.16 |
| Housing units | 12,939 ±425 | 160,592 | +1,173 |
Goleta's population since 2000
From 55,204 in 2000 to 32,401 in 2025: down 41.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Goleta as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Goleta?
The median resident of Goleta is 36.9 years old; 18.9% are under 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 45.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 36.7%. 23.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Goleta | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 ±1.6 | 34.6 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.9% ±1.8 pts | 22.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.2% ±1.4 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 50.7% ±1.7 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 36.7% ±2.8 pts | 48.2% | +4.2 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 45.8% ±2.7 pts | 40.6% | −5.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 10.9% ±1.7 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| 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 | 4.5% ±1.1 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 23.0% ±2.2 pts | 22.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 33.9% ±3.3 pts | 40.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.0% ±0.7 pts | 4.6% | – |
| With a disability | 8.4% ±1.2 pts | 11.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.6% ±2.2 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.7% ±2.5 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.4% ±2.6 pts | 36.8% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.4% ±2.1 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.8% ±2.2 pts | 84.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.5% ±1.2 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 Goleta earn?
Half of Goleta's 12,348 households earn less than $122,370 a year (±$8,547), against $98,161 in Santa Barbara County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $120,614 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Goleta | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $122,370 ±$8,547 | $98,161 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $150,310 ±$7,010 | $140,893 | – |
| Per capita income | $56,285 ±$2,399 | $48,028 | +$6,608 |
| People below the poverty line | 9.3% ±2.1 pts | 14.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.8% ±3.8 pts | 17.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.3% ±1.9 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.0% ±0.8 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.4% ±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 Goleta?
Owners occupy 50.7% of Goleta's occupied homes and renters 49.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,062,100 by its owner (±$29,586). The median renter pays $2,437 a month including utilities, and 42.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Goleta | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,062,100 ±$29,586 | $790,700 | +$80,376 |
| Median gross rent | $2,437 ±$120 | $2,131 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.8% ±5.2 pts | 49.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,637 ±$145 | $2,973 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 50.7% ±3.0 pts | 52.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 49.3% ±3.0 pts | 47.6% | – |
| Housing units | 12,939 ±425 | 160,592 | +1,173 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.9% ±1.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.2% ±2.4 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 44.2% ±2.6 pts | 56.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 6.4% ±1.5 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.3% ±1.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.2% ±0.7 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 4.8% ±1.8 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 many new homes is Goleta building?
Builders took permits for 238 new housing units in Goleta in 2025 (10 in single-family houses), 7.3 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Goleta work and get to work?
61.4% of Goleta's workers drive alone and 18.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.2%.
| Measure | Goleta | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.4% ±2.6 pts | 62.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% ±1.2 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 61.4% ±3.0 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.4% ±2.5 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.8% ±1.3 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Walked | 2.5% ±1.3 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.4% ±2.4 pts | 13.4% | +13.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.8 min ±1.4 | 20.8 min | no clear change |
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 Goleta?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Goleta, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $93,284 (Tract 30.01) to $148,816 (Tract 29.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 29.33Santa Barbara County | 7,693 | $125,814 |
| Tract 30.01Santa Barbara County | 6,254 | $93,284 |
| Tract 29.09Santa Barbara County | 5,309 | $142,250 |
| Tract 29.06Santa Barbara County | 4,206 | $148,816 |
| Tract 29.35Santa Barbara County | 3,644 | $101,278 |
| Tract 29.34Santa Barbara County | 3,290 | $135,694 |
| Tract 29.14Santa Barbara County | 3,088 | $134,531 |
| Tract 29.37Santa Barbara County | 2,937 | $104,688 |
| Tract 29.13Santa Barbara County | 4,167 | $126,375 |
| Tract 29.07Santa Barbara County | 4,096 | $194,896 |
| Tract 29.32Santa Barbara County | 2,342 | $120,250 |
| 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 Goleta) · Census block assignment files
How does Goleta compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Goleta is the 1,275th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 230th-most populous of 483 in California.
Goleta ranks 269th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 230th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 205th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 305th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 269th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 307th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 207th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 221st | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 508th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 235th | 988 |
| Median age | 690th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 889th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 338th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 1,007th | 1,069 |
Goleta's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Goleta 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 Goleta?
6 of the 57 figures for Goleta 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 Goleta 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' public schools in Goleta.