City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Santa Ynez, CA

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

4,725
Residents
$117,500
Median income
$1,121,000
Median home
$3,124
Median rent (state)

Santa Ynez - the verdict

Santa Ynez ranks in the 86th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

86th
percentile, household income
98th
percentile, home value
98th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Santa Ynez, CA

4,725 people live in Santa Ynez, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Santa Ynez households earn a median of $117,500 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.1%. Home values in Santa Ynez run a median of $1,121,000, and the median resident age is 41.7 years. About 35.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 5 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $3,124 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

4,725 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$117,500 /yr

Poverty 9.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Santa Ynez compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 86% higher than other cities
Home value 98% pricier than other cities
Median rent 98% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Santa Ynez's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

86thIncome percentile

86th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Santa Ynez's home value compares nationally

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

$1,121,000 2nd percentile more affordable than 2% 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%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Santa Ynez $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 - Santa Ynez, CA Santa Ynez, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Santa Ynez, 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 Santa Ynez, CA median $117,500/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%
Santa Ynez, 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 Santa Ynez, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 35.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.4%

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

Population
4,725
Median Income
$117,500
Median Home Value
$1,121,000
Median Age
41.7
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Labor force participation
55.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
35.1%

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
73.8%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.1%
Work from Home
23.8%

Based on 2,164 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 Santa Ynez sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,124/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Mather
4,729 people
Brisbane
4,718 people
Pacheco
4,657 people
Copperopolis
4,644 people
Bret Harte
4,807 people
Indian Wells
4,830 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Santa Ynez's 4,725 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Centreville, MD
4,725 people
Stock Island, FL
4,724 people
Butler Beach, FL
4,723 people
Vail, CO
4,729 people
Edwardsville, KS
4,721 people
Crystal City, MO
4,721 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Santa Ynez's $117,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Belleair, FL
$117,500 median income
Wardsville, MO
$117,500 median income
Nickerson, NE
$117,500 median income
Cavendish, VT
$117,500 median income
Jefferson Hills, PA
$117,518 median income
Cherry Hill Mall, NJ
$117,535 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Santa Ynez, 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 Santa Ynez, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.8% 7.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 20.6% White 88.8% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.5% Two or more races 7.3% 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 Santa Ynez 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
Santa Ynez (this city) 4,725 $117,500
Mather 4,729 $140,941
Brisbane 4,718 $151,593
Pacheco 4,657 $100,152
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Santa Ynez, CA?

What is the population of Santa Ynez, CA? +

The population of Santa Ynez, CA stands at 4,725 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Santa Ynez, CA? +

The median household income in Santa Ynez is $117,500 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Santa Ynez? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Santa Ynez; 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.

What is the median home value in Santa Ynez, CA? +

The median home value in Santa Ynez is $1,121,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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 Editorial

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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.