Population 221 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Surf
Household size in Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.98 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.96 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.96 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.69 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.29 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Surf average 2.69 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in California as a whole, where it has 3.01 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.98, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 49.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 48.1 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +10.5 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Surf skews older: half of its residents are older than 48.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 0.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Surf: 6.8% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
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 Surf
Renters in Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.4% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 47.3% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 69.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 62.3% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −13.1 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Surf rent: 62.3% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 58.9% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.6% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.8% of the housing in Surf, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1959 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −2 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Surf is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1968, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,118 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,116 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,674 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,917 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$799 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Surf costs $1,917 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in California overall ($2,229). Rent takes 24.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Surf
Bachelor's degrees in Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.2% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.9% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +16.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Surf than nationally: 39.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 75.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 85.0% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 69.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 83.5% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.7 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in six adults in Surf never finished high school, well above the national share: only 83.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. That is in line with the rest of California.
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 Surf
| Period | Surf | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 1.9% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The survey found almost no one in Surf out of work and looking, against 5.4% of the labor force nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Surf 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | 2.69 | 48.1 | 6.8% | 62.3% | 16.8% | 1968 | $1,917 | 39.9% | 83.5% | 0.0% |
| Lompoc | 2.90 | 36.5 | 17.5% | 48.3% | 6.7% | 1974 | $1,814 | 14.6% | 74.4% | 6.8% |
| Las Cruces | 2.61 | 46.8 | 5.9% | 62.1% | 16.6% | 1968 | $1,917 | 39.3% | 85.5% | 0.3% |
| Buellton | 2.73 | 40.6 | 13.5% | 41.0% | 14.1% | 1996 | $2,050 | 40.4% | 91.1% | 2.2% |
| Solvang | 2.25 | 53.2 | 6.6% | 41.9% | 8.6% | 1981 | $2,064 | 41.6% | 91.3% | 4.3% |
| Los Olivos | 2.26 | 57.0 | 7.0% | 11.4% | 9.5% | 1980 | $2,051 | 58.1% | 96.6% | 4.7% |
| Santa Ynez | 2.85 | 43.4 | 12.4% | 28.5% | 16.3% | 1979 | $2,367 | 35.7% | 92.2% | 4.5% |
| Ellwood | 2.79 | 40.4 | 4.3% | 37.5% | 3.0% | 1976 | $2,261 | 49.3% | 92.5% | 6.2% |
| 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% |
| Santa Barbara | 2.52 | 43.5 | 10.3% | 52.1% | 7.7% | 1966 | $2,707 | 51.6% | 89.6% | 5.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Idyllwild, CA · Huntsville, IL · Huntsville, KY · Hurley, KY · Hutchinson, NJ · Sewellton, KY · Ibapah, UT · Idamay, KY · Idanha, OR · Humphreys, MO
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 Surf. 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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