Population 6,839 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Waterfront
Household size in Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.93 | 2.52 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 1.99 | 2.68 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.02 | 2.57 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.04 | 2.52 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.11 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Waterfront are small: just 2.04 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has climbed from 1.93 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.9 | 41.5 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.4 | 41.3 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 35.6 | 42.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.1 | 43.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.2 | +2.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Waterfront are younger than 39.1 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is younger than in Santa Barbara as a whole, where the median age is 43.5. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 32.9, as it has nationally.
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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.6% | 9.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.0% | 9.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.2% | 10.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.6 pts | +1.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Waterfront: 15.2% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 3.6 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Waterfront
Renters in Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 78.1% | 48.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 83.0% | 50.5% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 81.7% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 80.7% | 52.1% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +3.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Waterfront rent: 80.7% 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, 52.5% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 2.6 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.3% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.8% | 8.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 11.1% | 7.7% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.1% | 7.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Waterfront as nationally: 10.1%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in Santa Barbara overall (7.7%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 7.1 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1962 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1962 | 1964 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1964 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1968 | 1966 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +10 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Waterfront 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. That is in line with the rest of Santa Barbara. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,322 | $1,544 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,509 | $1,642 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,865 | $2,088 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,504 | $2,707 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,182 | +$1,163 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Waterfront pays $2,504 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Santa Barbara as a whole ($2,707). Rent has climbed $1,182 a month since 2006–10, up 89%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.8% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 Waterfront
Bachelor's degrees in Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.1% | 43.1% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 43.9% | 44.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.4% | 49.1% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.3% | 51.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Waterfront: 48.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Still, the share is lower than in Santa Barbara overall (51.6%). Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.2 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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.2% | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.5% | 85.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.3% | 87.5% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 90.0% | 89.6% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +4.1 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Waterfront is close to the national rate: 90.0% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.8 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Waterfront
| Period | Waterfront | Santa Barbara | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.1% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.8% | 6.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 3.7% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Waterfront is close to the national rate: 5.6% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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).
Waterfront compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfront | 2.04 | 39.1 | 15.2% | 80.7% | 10.1% | 1968 | $2,504 | 48.3% | 90.0% | 5.6% |
| Lower East | 2.70 | 37.1 | 12.6% | 70.0% | 4.8% | 1962 | $2,351 | 36.7% | 80.2% | 5.0% |
| Westside-Santa Barbara | 2.69 | 34.6 | 15.7% | 75.4% | 7.8% | 1965 | $2,384 | 38.6% | 80.2% | 7.8% |
| Eastside Santa Barbara | 2.99 | 41.0 | 15.0% | 56.3% | 1.6% | 1951 | $2,712 | 30.9% | 79.7% | 5.9% |
| Riviera | 2.43 | 46.1 | 7.3% | 35.6% | 8.1% | 1963 | $2,675 | 62.6% | 92.6% | 2.7% |
| Mesa | 2.38 | 47.9 | 8.7% | 40.6% | 7.8% | 1964 | $2,812 | 61.0% | 96.2% | 6.3% |
| Las Positas | 2.53 | 52.4 | 3.6% | 34.8% | 12.4% | 1968 | $3,292 | 60.0% | 94.7% | 3.8% |
| Upper State | 2.31 | 48.3 | 6.3% | 47.4% | 9.3% | 1966 | $2,662 | 59.0% | 93.9% | 5.1% |
| Sea View Estates | 3.87 | 30.8 | 27.4% | 31.6% | 6.6% | 1982 | $1,907 | 25.0% | 78.9% | 5.7% |
| Via Marina | 2.71 | 44.9 | 2.8% | 39.2% | 10.0% | 1976 | $2,317 | 34.2% | 85.1% | 6.9% |
| Sierra Linda | 4.07 | 29.1 | 25.5% | 62.5% | 4.2% | 1970 | $1,897 | 10.0% | 67.5% | 8.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Van Steuban, Detroit, MI · East Durham, Durham, NC · Eastland, Columbus, OH · Eastland-Wilora Lake, Charlotte, NC · El Camino, South San Francisco, CA · El Dorado Park, Long Beach, CA · El Rio, Oxnard, CA · Fairview, Allentown, PA · Franklin Park, Trenton, NJ · Girvin, Jacksonville, FL
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 Waterfront. 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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