Isla Vista CDP, Santa Barbara County, California Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Isla Vista CDP, California, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Isla Vista CDP, California. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Isla Vista CDP, California. The estimated population of Isla Vista CDP, California is 15,732 people, with a median age of 21.1.

We can look at the total population in Isla Vista CDP over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
15,732
-0.01% -42.76%
2020
15,733
-43.22% -
2019
27,707
+0.06%
-
2018
27,690
+0.75%
-
2017
27,484
- -

Population of Isla Vista CDP, California by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
52.8%
49.4%
+6.88%
Black/African American
5.3%
2.8%
+89.29%
Native
0%
0%
0.00%
Hispanic
23.3%
24.1%
-3.32%
Asian
14.9%
18.9%
-21.16%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
3.3%
4.6%
-28.26%
Other
0.3%
0.2%
+50.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Isla Vista CDP, California by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 21.1 0% 21.2 +0.47% 21 0%
2020 21.1 +2.43% 21.1 +1.44% 21 +2.44%
2019 20.6 0% 20.8 -0.48% 20.5 +0.49%
2018 20.6 0% 20.9 +0.48% 20.4 -0.49%
2017 20.6 - 20.8 - 20.5 -

The median age of Isla Vista CDP, California gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 179 -75.56% 220 -76.28% 56 62
10 to 19 4,879 -78.63% 5,284 -61.78% 1,555 1,785
20 to 29 7,578 -26.88% 7,586 -24.1% 5,504 5,692
30 to 39 536 -56.15% 424 -55.68% 213 127
40 to 49 97 888.94% 121 1.73% 80 99
50 to 59 95 +48.06% 82 +43.26% 111 120
60 to 69 90 10.47% 157 -50.12% 48 88
70+ 82 +70.28% 74 -25.94% 142 50

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Isla Vista CDP, California is $22,386.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Isla Vista CDP.

  • Under 25
    $17,492.00
  • 25 to 44
    $50,781.00
  • 45 to 64
    $41,250.00
  • 65 and over
    $36,765.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Isla Vista CDP, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Isla Vista CDP, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Isla Vista CDP, California is currently $32,936.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

0.18% of households in Isla Vista CDP are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Isla Vista CDP against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    52.92%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    23.82%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    12.10%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    5.71%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    3.87%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1.40%
  • $200,000 or more
    0.18%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Isla Vista CDP is $11,099.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Isla Vista CDP by the total population of Isla Vista CDP.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Isla Vista CDP, California, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Isla Vista CDP to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    22.51%
  • Bachelor's degree
    35.78%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    10.13%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    23.68%
  • Less than high school diploma
    7.89%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Isla Vista CDP that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Isla Vista CDP over the age of 16 is 15,429.

Of those people, a total of 57.90% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Isla Vista CDP is 49.40%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 3,155 47.70% 19.20%
20 to 24 years 10,436 58.40% 15.50%
25 to 29 years 760 67.00% 2.20%
30 to 34 years 227 94.70% 4.20%
35 to 44 years 215 79.10% 18.20%
45 to 54 years 199 95.00% 5.30%
55 to 59 years 109 78.00% 0.00%
60 to 64 years 45 42.20% 0.00%
65 to 74 years 200 55.00% 0.00%
75 years and over 83 34.90% 37.90%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Isla Vista CDP. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 9,839 58.70% 15.30%
Black or African American 837 85.70% 19.40%
American Indian and Alaska Native 129 85.30% 0.00%
Asian 2,357 34.60% 7.70%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 0.00% 0.00%
Other 1,363 71.50% 9.70%
Two or more races 898 59.20% 23.90%
Hispanic or Latino 3,424 69.20% 10.80%
Not Hispanic or Latino 8,284 57.40% 16.70%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Isla Vista CDP as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Isla Vista CDP is 7,619, with median earnings of $8,782.00.

Women in Isla Vista CDP, California earning approximately 45.60% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 7,619 $8,782.00
Male 3,718 $13,258.00
Female 3,901 $6,042.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 222 $11,557.00
Business and Financial 125 $6,875.00
Computer and Mathematical 243 $9,078.00
Architecture and Engineering 102 $14,398.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 216 $8,796.00
Community and Social Service 76 $2,499.00
Legal 42 $0.00
Educational and Library 1,124 $9,333.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 219 $7,422.00
Healthcare Practitioners 217 $4,911.00
Healthcare Support 225 $9,635.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 162 $5,769.00
Law Enforcement 39 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 1,591 $10,719.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 157 $14,099.00
Personal Care and Service 288 $4,038.00
Sales 853 $5,625.00
Office and Administrative Support 885 $7,804.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 116 $40,800.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 43 $16,771.00
Production 219 $16,343.00
Transportation and Material Moving 119 $20,063.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 93 $35,972.00 129 $10,448.00
Business and Financial 61 $20,125.00 64 $6,167.00
Computer and Mathematical 217 $9,236.00 26 $0.00
Architecture and Engineering 67 $15,865.00 35 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 113 $9,861.00 103 $7,044.00
Community and Social Service 50 $0.00 26 $0.00
Legal 0 $0.00 42 $0.00
Educational and Library 559 $13,837.00 565 $6,170.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 144 $18,421.00 75 $2,499.00
Healthcare Practitioners 188 $4,541.00 29 $0.00
Healthcare Support 142 $6,524.00 83 $21,157.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 118 $6,218.00 44 $3,056.00
Law Enforcement 39 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 776 $13,244.00 815 $5,662.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 83 $20,078.00 74 $12,292.00
Personal Care and Service 71 $8,942.00 217 $3,558.00
Sales 184 $4,926.00 669 $5,674.00
Office and Administrative Support 262 $15,592.00 623 $5,165.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 116 $40,800.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 43 $16,771.00 0 $0.00
Production 127 $45,139.00 92 $13,021.00
Transportation and Material Moving 112 $20,500.00 7 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 4,571 households in Isla Vista CDP, with an average household size of 3.11 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 392 families in Isla Vista CDP with an average family size of 3.18 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 261 38 93 4,179
Average Household Size 3.52 2.74 2.61 3.1
Total Families 261 38 93 0
Average Household Size 3.46 2.74 2.58 0

Poverty

Of the 392 families in Isla Vista CDP, 17.90% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Isla Vista CDP:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 4,984 housing units in Isla Vista CDP, California.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,571 91.71%
Vacant 413 8.29%

90.49% of the total 4,984 housing units in Isla Vista CDP are rental units. This is approximately 4,510 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 45 are occupied by the owner - or 0.90% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Isla Vista CDP is $1,773.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Isla Vista CDP that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    16
  • Less than $500
    18
  • $500 to $999
    391
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    874
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    1,781
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    546
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    346
  • $3,000 or more
    554

Property Value

The median value of a property in Isla Vista CDP is $0.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Isla Vista CDP that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    0
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    0
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    0
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    0
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    0
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    22
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    23
  • $1,000,000 or more
    0

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Isla Vista CDP. The chart below shows the number of properties in Isla Vista CDP that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    63
  • 1940 to 1949
    210
  • 1950 to 1959
    321
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,132
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,426
  • 1980 to 1989
    564
  • 1990 to 1999
    770
  • 2000 to 2009
    123
  • 2010 to 2013
    375
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Isla Vista CDP that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    761
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,815
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,092
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    903

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Isla Vista CDP get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Isla Vista CDP that commute to work in a particular way.

14.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Isla Vista CDP.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    213
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,132
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,287
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    1,645
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    643
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    313
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    296
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    0
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    54
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    71
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    86
  • 90 or more minutes
    21

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Isla Vista CDP, California in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.