Population 58,677 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Goleta
Household size in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.99 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 3.02 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.93 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.73 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.25 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Goleta average 2.73 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in California as a whole, where it has 3.01 people. Household size has dropped from 2.99 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.3 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 31.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Goleta is young: half of its residents are under 31.3, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young families with children. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 30.6, a smaller shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 40 are younger.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.2% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.4 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.4% of households in Goleta, well below the national share of 11.6%. Compared with other California cities, Goleta has a lower share of single-parent households than most.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Goleta
Renters in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 61.4% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 62.1% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 64.1% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 62.7% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renters far outnumber owners in Goleta: 62.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% nationally. Among homeowners, 32.3% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 32 have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.9% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.3% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Goleta than nationally: 6.4%, against 9.6% for the U.S. California as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 1.5 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1974 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1977 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Goleta are the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1974 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the center, while the northeast has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,522 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,591 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,100 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,548 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,026 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Goleta costs $2,548 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,026 a month since 2006–10, up 67%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 36.1% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the center; the most affordable are in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Goleta
Bachelor's degrees in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 48.2% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 50.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Goleta is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (50.6%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.5 points, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.3% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.1% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.5% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.3% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Goleta is a bit above the national rate: 91.3% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 7.0 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Goleta
| Period | Goleta | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.0% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Goleta: 8.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Goleta has higher unemployment than at least four in five California cities. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Goleta compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goleta | 2.73 | 31.3 | 8.4% | 62.7% | 6.4% | 1980 | $2,548 | 50.6% | 91.3% | 8.8% |
| Isla Vista | 2.44 | 19.4 | 11.3% | 100.0% | 5.7% | 2001 | $2,100 | 88.2% | 98.7% | 16.8% |
| Ellwood | 2.79 | 40.4 | 4.3% | 37.5% | 3.0% | 1976 | $2,261 | 49.3% | 92.5% | 6.2% |
| Santa Barbara | 2.52 | 43.5 | 10.3% | 52.1% | 7.7% | 1966 | $2,707 | 51.6% | 89.6% | 5.2% |
| Montecito | 2.27 | 50.4 | 5.2% | 26.2% | 15.4% | 1974 | $3,239 | 72.4% | 98.2% | 3.2% |
| Summerland | 2.16 | 51.7 | 3.9% | 34.9% | 21.1% | 1974 | $2,215 | 61.6% | 93.6% | 13.6% |
| Toro Canyon | 2.10 | 58.6 | 1.4% | 37.7% | 13.0% | 1962 | $2,204 | 45.2% | 90.7% | 4.6% |
| Carpinteria | 2.59 | 45.2 | 5.5% | 38.2% | 13.1% | 1975 | $2,514 | 45.3% | 86.2% | 3.5% |
| Las Cruces | 2.61 | 46.8 | 5.9% | 62.1% | 16.6% | 1968 | $1,917 | 39.3% | 85.5% | 0.3% |
| Meiners Oaks | 2.87 | 50.0 | 9.1% | 8.3% | 15.4% | 1979 | $1,949 | 44.7% | 93.1% | 17.2% |
| Oak View | 2.69 | 46.9 | 3.7% | 18.8% | 5.6% | 1971 | $2,590 | 32.5% | 87.3% | 5.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Kettering, OH · Wheaton, IL · Arecibo, PR · Bentonville, AR · Carrollton, GA · Carson City, NV · Westminster, MD · Colton, CA · South Whittier, CA · Lansdale, PA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Goleta. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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