Located in the state of California, Goleta is a medium-sized city with a population of 30,671 inhabitants. With a population density of 3,907 people per square mile, Goleta is well above the nation's average density level. The majority of Goleta residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Asian and Black. Additionally, more than a quarter of the population of Goleta are of Hispanic or Latino origin, and 27% of the population also speak Spanish. Goleta is known to be family friendly as more than 72% of the population has already tied the knot. It might also be worth noting that 54% of residents also have children under the age of 18.
If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a great experience if you are willing to get to know the town before actually living in Goleta, California. Finding the best places to live in Goleta and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes crime, cost of living, education, employment and other important metrics.
With a livability score of 74/100, Goleta is ranked #5,910 in the United States and #235 in California. There are seven total categories that generate the livability score. Goleta ranks well for amenities (A+), crime (A), weather (A-) and employment (B-). Goleta does not score well for the following: cost of living (F). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
Location, location, location - possibly the three most important words in your search for a new place to live. Fortunately, in Goleta, there is no shortage of amazing local amenities and interesting things to do. Here are some of the more popular things to do in Goleta: Refugio State Park and Beach, Circle Bar B Guest Ranch, and Sandpiper Golf Course.
Low violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, assault) is a must for most people when searching for a new area to live. At 165 crimes per 100,000 residents, Goleta has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.
Assuming that Goleta meets all of your requirements, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Goleta. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Goleta are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Goleta come in at $650,200, which is 58.9% higher than the California average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Goleta, the home price to income ratio is 8, which is 25% higher than the California average. Purchasing your new home can come with many financial benefits, some of which are more lucrative than others. Perhaps the most notable benefit could be the appreciation of your new home. Home appreciation rates are a good way to generate tax-free equity on a long term basis. The year over year appreciation rates in Goleta were 3.8%, and the 5 year appreciation rates came in at 6%.
| Walk | Bike | Compact | Car | S.U.V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | |||||
| Duration | |||||
| Cost/Month |
| Place | Livability scoreScore | Miles | PopulationPop. |
| Mesa, Santa Barbara | 71 | 8 | 10,372 |
| Las Positas, Santa Barbara | 71 | 6.8 | 5,327 |
| Upper State, Santa Barbara | 69 | 6.7 | 14,832 |
| Westside, Santa Barbara | 65 | 8.2 | 16,009 |
| Place | Livability scoreScore | Miles | PopulationPop. |
| Waterfront, Santa Barbara | 59 | 10.3 | 2,410 |
| Eastside, Santa Barbara | 58 | 10.3 | 10,899 |
| Downtown, Santa Barbara | 57 | 8.6 | 19,688 |
| Riviera, Santa Barbara | 54 | 10.2 | 7,767 |
| Place | Livability scoreScore | Miles | PopulationPop. |
| Montecito, CA | 82 | 13.1 | 9,193 |
| Mission Canyon, CA | 81 | 8.3 | 2,769 |
| Buellton, CA | 75 | 22.9 | 5,021 |
| Summerland, CA | 75 | 15.1 | 1,146 |
| Place | Livability scoreScore | Miles | PopulationPop. |
| Los Olivos, CA | 75 | 21.6 | 871 |
| Goleta, CA | 74 | 0 | 30,671 |
| Channel Islands Beach, CA | 72 | 40.8 | 2,954 |
| Toro Canyon, CA | 72 | 16.9 | 1,714 |