Santa Barbara County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Santa Barbara County CA was $1,660 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Santa Barbara County was $1,664 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Santa Barbara County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Santa Barbara County rental vacancy rates, Santa Barbara County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Santa Barbara County.
Real Gross Rent in Santa Barbara County California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| Santa Barbara County CA Median Gross Rent | $1,660 | -1.37% | +2.79% |
Santa Barbara County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Santa Barbara County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,683 and is now $23 (1.37%) lower. Average gross rent for Santa Barbara County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $1,685 and is now $21 (1.25%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Santa Barbara County CA Median, Santa Barbara County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Santa Barbara County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Santa Barbara County CA Median |
Santa Barbara County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,660 | $1,664 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,683 | $1,666 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,636 | $1,685 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,615 | $1,643 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,505 | $1,552 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,473 | $1,513 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,407 | $1,476 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,408 | $1,465 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,366 | $1,442 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,416 | $1,454 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,449 | $1,476 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,416 | $1,450 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,401 | $1,474 |
Santa Barbara County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Santa Barbara County California was 3.78% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Santa Barbara County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Santa Barbara County CA | 3.78% | +1.86% | +1.04% |
Trends in Santa Barbara County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Santa Barbara County peaked in 2005 at 5.48%. Since then it has fallen by 1.70% to 3.78%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 1.90%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.88%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Santa Barbara County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Santa Barbara County
| Date | US | California | Santa Barbara County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 3.78% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 1.92% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 1.90% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 2.74% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.61% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 4.18% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 3.45% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 2.91% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 3.01% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 4.30% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 3.55% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 2.45% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 5.48% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Santa Barbara County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Santa Barbara County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 26.33% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Santa Barbara County California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| Santa Barbara County CA | 26.33% | +0.73% | -1.11% |
Trends in Santa Barbara County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Santa Barbara County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 27.44%. Since then it has fallen by 1.11% to 26.33%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Santa Barbara County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Santa Barbara County California
| Date | US | California | Santa Barbara County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 26.33% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 25.60% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 26.78% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 27.44% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 26.76% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 26.22% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 25.68% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 25.67% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 25.09% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 26.78% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 25.83% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 24.76% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 24.03% |
Renter Fraction in Santa Barbara County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Santa Barbara County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Santa Barbara County as a fraction of total Santa Barbara County households. In 2019 47.82% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Santa Barbara County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| Santa Barbara County CA | 47.82% | +0.21% | -1.19% |
Trends in the Santa Barbara County CA Renter Fraction
The Santa Barbara County household renter fraction peaked in in 2011 at 49.33% and is now 1.51% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Santa Barbara County CA, California, US
History of Santa Barbara County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Santa Barbara County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 47.82% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 47.61% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 48.86% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 49.01% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 48.74% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 47.76% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 48.04% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 48.34% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 49.33% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 46.65% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 46.99% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 46.36% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 42.24% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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