Census-designated place · California
Isla Vista, California
Isla Vista, census-designated place, in Santa Barbara County, California. Isla Vista had 13,920 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±1,069). GEOID 0636868.
Residents, 2020-2024
13,920
±1,069 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 15,500
Median household income
$25,972
±$5,478 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$1,218,800
±$877,610 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,878
±$95 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Isla Vista and what county is it in?
Isla Vista 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 0.6 square miles of land, 28,131 residents per square mile in 2020.
Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Isla Vista's population at 13,920 (±1,069). The 2020 Census counted 15,500 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Isla Vista is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Isla Vista | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 13,920 ±1,069 | 443,701 | −13,787 |
| Households | 4,763 ±360 | 149,608 | −623 |
| Average household size | 2.52 ±0.18 | 2.81 | −0.59 |
| Housing units | 5,323 ±335 | 160,592 | −504 |
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 Isla Vista?
The median resident of Isla Vista is 21.2 years old; 1.8% are under 18 and 2.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 54.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 20.4%. 10.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Isla Vista | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 21.2 ±0.2 | 34.6 | +0.6 |
| Under 18 years | 1.8% ±0.9 pts | 22.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 2.3% ±0.9 pts | 16.6% | – |
| Male | 46.5% ±4.3 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.4% ±3.5 pts | 48.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 54.5% ±4.0 pts | 40.6% | +7.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±2.0 pts | 1.5% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 15.6% ±2.6 pts | 5.2% | −5.6 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.4% ±1.1 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 10.2% ±2.0 pts | 22.2% | −9.0 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 27.1% ±3.8 pts | 40.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 4.6% | – |
| With a disability | 8.6% ±1.3 pts | 11.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.6% ±1.5 pts | 8.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.3% ±5.0 pts | 81.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 43.7% ±9.5 pts | 36.8% | −17.7 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 22.4% ±7.9 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 32.7% ±4.9 pts | 84.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.1% ±1.5 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 Isla Vista earn?
Half of Isla Vista's 4,763 households earn less than $25,972 a year (±$5,478), against $98,161 in Santa Barbara County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $30,207 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 70.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Isla Vista | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $25,972 ±$5,478 | $98,161 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $39,145 ±$5,445 | $140,893 | – |
| Per capita income | $14,110 ±$1,788 | $48,028 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 70.4% ±4.5 pts | 14.7% | +6.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.8% ±13.1 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 32.2% ±5.8 pts | 10.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.6% ±0.9 pts | 96.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.7% ±3.6 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 Isla Vista?
Owners occupy 1.2% of Isla Vista's occupied homes and renters 98.8%. The median renter pays $1,878 a month including utilities, and 83.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Isla Vista | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,218,800 ±$877,610 | $790,700 | – |
| Median gross rent | $1,878 ±$95 | $2,131 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 83.9% ±4.7 pts | 49.5% | +6.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,302 ±$391 | $2,973 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 1.2% ±0.7 pts | 52.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 98.8% ±0.7 pts | 47.6% | – |
| Housing units | 5,323 ±335 | 160,592 | −504 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±44.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.9% ±2.1 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 6.3% ±2.2 pts | 56.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.6% ±2.4 pts | 5.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.4% ±1.4 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 14.6% ±4.6 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 Isla Vista work and get to work?
50.0% of Isla Vista's workers drive alone and 9.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 17.4%.
| Measure | Isla Vista | Santa Barbara County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 59.4% ±5.2 pts | 62.5% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 17.4% ±4.7 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 50.0% ±6.7 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.2% ±1.4 pts | 11.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.8% ±1.8 pts | 2.2% | – |
| Walked | 19.3% ±5.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 9.4% ±3.2 pts | 13.4% | +5.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.6 min ±1.5 | 20.8 min | +2.0 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 Isla Vista?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Isla Vista, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $22,722 (Tract 29.26) to $45,867 (Tract 29.36).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 29.24Santa Barbara County | 6,072 | $25,167 |
| Tract 29.26Santa Barbara County | 4,694 | $22,722 |
| Tract 29.36Santa Barbara County | 3,154 | $45,867 |
| Tract 9900Santa 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 Isla Vista) · Census block assignment files
How does Isla Vista compare with other places in California?
Isla Vista ranks 1,034th 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) | 418th | 1,076 |
| Residents per square mile | 1st | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 1,034th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 1,058th | 1,073 |
| Median gross rent | 473rd | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 1st | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 304th | 988 |
| Median age | 1,069th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,064th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 636th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 1,036th | 1,069 |
Isla Vista's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista?
11 of the 57 figures for Isla Vista 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 Isla Vista 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.