Welcome to Santa Barbara, New Residents!
The American Riviera
The home of the infamous Isla Vista (IV) and Free Birds Mexican restaurant, Santa Barbara is a mecca for all beach and surf lovers. The architecture is incredible, and the fine diner even more so. And hey, if you’re in the mood to adventure outside the city, one can easily do a day trip to spots like Hearst Castle, Disneyland and Hollywood. Get ready to move to a place where you will always want to have a bathing suit and towel in the car; hitting the beach just sounds so good so much of the year!
Neighborhood Information for Santa Barabara Movers
Cost of Living: The prices of homes here is incredibly high. If there is one word to describe the area, it is usually expensive. The average home value is about $834,700 compared to California’s average of about $350,000. This is greatly due to the location and prestige surrounding the area.
Schools: University wise, it is widely known for it’s 4 year public school, the University of California, Santa Barbara, which is technically located in nearby city – Goleta. Though this school has a serious reputation for partying, it has an incredibly high caliber of academia as well.
Santa Barbara is home to 4 other higher learning institutions as well: Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, Antioch University and the Brooks Institute of Photography.
Important for Santa Barbara Movers & Moving Quotes
Population: The city itself is home to about 88,400 people. As for the county, which includes Goleta, Carpinteria, Isla Vista, Montecito, Mission Canyon, Hope Ranch, Summerland and a few other towns, the population eccompasses approximaetly 220,000 people.
Weather: This classic California beach town is the epitome of West coast films. The climate is the prime example of this as it is a warm-summer Mediterranean. Because the town is directly along the water, there are slightly warmer summers and cooler winters than the surrounding towns. This water also means more precipitation than most of Southern California.
Finding a Job in Santa Barbara: Top Employers & Economy
The top industries employing this city include the service sector (at 35%), education (represented greatly by its 5 large colleges and universities), technology, health care, finance, agriculture, local government and manufacturing.
The unemployment rate is 3.8%, which is incredibly low (especially in comparison to the nation’s average at 6.3%)!
Things & Facts Residents Want to Know
- The Beach - Walk West. Need I say more?
- Free Birds - This is not just a Mexican burrito shop, this is a point of university culture for students who attend UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara). Come here for one of their magical wrapped burritos, and you won’t regret it!
- Local Wine Tasting - There are some lesser known wineries in the immediate area worth visiting. Head to Santa Barbara Winery and then hit Oreana Winery to compare flavors. (Wine tasting is $5 at the first and $10 at the latter, this includes the glass they let you keep!)
Fun Facts:
- John Cleese, the famous actor & comedian, resides here. He has been known for being spotted at local restaurants and even speaking at events at UCSB!
- Celebrities wedded here include Gwyneth Paltrow, Will Ferrell and Jim Carrey.
- Fan of cycling? Santa Barbara is ranked as one of top the top 20 bicycle commuter cities.