2024 Best Places to Live in Santa Barbara County

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 3.82 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: The neighborhood is beautiful and very clean with many townhomes, apartments, condos, and houses. There are many parks and in the center of elementary, middle, and high schools. However, the community is very close-knit and roads are very slim.... Read 22 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 8,529

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 4.03 out of 5  154 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Goleta for the past 5 years, and have truly enjoyed it! I like that Goleta is a little quieter than Santa Barbara, but still has plenty of fun things to do.... Read 154 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 32,640

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Niche User: The area is beautiful, and the weather is great.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 2,500

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  162 reviews

Current Resident: I love Santa Barbara so much! I was born here, and have met so many amazing people. We were blessed with both the beach, and the mountains, and the weather is beautiful. There are so many amazing places to go and fun things to do! I love it here, and am forever grateful for everything that Santa Barbara has given me.... Read 162 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 88,640

• Town in California

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Population 1,020

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 4.75 out of 5  4 reviews

Niche User: Generally speaking Carpinteria California is an overall safe neighborhood. Crime is extremely low compared to other areas of the country. Police in Carpinteria are usually not extremely visible, however they tend to be more present in Santa Barbara which is approximately ten minutes away.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 1,692

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  17 reviews

Visitor: Such a cute town and very authentic to Danish culture. Really good restaurants within walking distance. Cute shops to look around in. Great hotels in the center of town.... Read 17 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 6,035

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 4.15 out of 5  20 reviews

Current Resident: I've lived here for 15+ years, and it's definitely a good town to raise a family in. Mostly quiet, and very communal in a lot of ways.... Read 20 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 13,187

Current Resident: Orcutt is a very sweet little town. The "old Orcutt," part is by far the most fun. They have so many amazing antique shops, fun restaurants and a very fun atmosphere. For those who are 21 and up, this area is a blast. There are beer gardens, wine tasting, and a couple of bars. Overall, I love this little town.... Read 81 reviews

• grade B

• grade B+

• Population 31,137

• Suburb in California

• grade B

• grade B+

• Population 1,274

• Town in California

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  Rating 3.86 out of 5  14 reviews

Current Resident: Buellton is a great family-friendly small town with a few local and lots of chain restaurants. I only wish to see lower rent and more diversity here.... Read 14 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Population 5,151

Niche User: Lompoc is my hometown. Most people look at this city as being boring and irrelevant in comparison to all other neighboring cities in California. In high school I saw it the same way. I could not wait to get out of this "dull" town. When I left for college I realized how great Lompoc really is. It may be small but I have met the nicest people I've ever known here. The community here is unlike anything else. The Village and many other neighborhoods are pretty safe. I wouldn't trade my childhood and growing up years spent here in Lompoc for anything else. Although we lost most of our flower fields here I still see this city slowly progressing. I could see myself living here again far in the future either when I have a family or when I retire. Lompoc has a small-town vibe yet is not far from fun places such as Santa Barbara, Solvang, the beach, and San Luis Obispo.... Read 1 review

• grade B

• grade B+

• Population 3,458

• Town in California

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Good place to live not much to do but here you feel a sense of community. And it’s a great place to raise a family as it is very quiet.... Read 4 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A

• Population 4,716

Current Resident: Vandenberg Village is a quiet and safe place to live, for the most part (there has been an increase mail theft recently). The walking trail is great to have, and the farmer's market on Sundays is awesome. Traffic around the schools in the morning, lunchtime, and afternoon is chaotic, avoid it if you can. The community seems to be pretty dog friendly.... Read 13 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade B

• Population 6,702

Current Resident: Exploring the Enchantment of Lompoc, California: The Backyard of Santa Barbara Beautiful Santa Barbara backyard next to the beach and a river nice here. I would like a mall here and to have homeless advocacy here to help to homeless get off the street and give them resources and options. I'm going to start soccer practice soon and for some classes, I would like to have a metro here would be perfect for the blue-collar folk and students at the college. Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of California, Lompoc emerges as a hidden gem, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and a welcoming community. Situated just beyond the boundaries of Santa Barbara, Lompoc serves as the charming backyard of this coastal city.... Read 111 reviews

• grade C

• grade B

• Population 44,086

• City in California

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  Rating 3.56 out of 5  294 reviews

Current Resident: Santa Maria has various cultural and recreational opportunities, including parks, museums, and annual events such as the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival. Additionally, Santa Maria has a diverse population and a growing economy, with industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to healthcare and education. Overall, Santa Maria offers a blend of small-town charm, agricultural heritage, and access to outdoor activities, making it an appealing destination for residents and visitors alike.... Read 294 reviews

• grade C

• grade B minus

• Population 109,543

• Town in California

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  25 reviews

Current Resident: Guadalupe is a small farm town. Overall there is a sense of pride here that is unmatched by bigger towns that I have lived in. However, they should invest more into infrastructure. For example, there are not many traffic lights and some of the busier intersections could benefit from them. Also, they should invest more into education to increase their ratings and make the schools more desirable for attendance.... Read 25 reviews

• grade C minus

• grade C+

• Population 8,272

• Town in California

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Population 721

• Town in California

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  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: I Started Kindergarten here and I graduated high school. What I love about my community is that we are all connected like a family and all help each other. One change that needs to happen for the better is, giving our town a Music Store. School system is ok but the rules need to be more strict and disciplined. My favorite place to visit here in Cuyama is the “Richardson Park” I love going in the playground and the swings. New adventures on every corner, awesome people to talk too. This place is a dream come true. The only change I would want is for the community to add a music store.... Read 2 reviews

• grade C+

• grade C minus

• Population 669

• Town in California

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: A great small town for wine tasting and great dining. It is one strip of wine tasting rooms with a great bakery and great flat bread.... Read 1 review

• grade C

• grade B

• Population 834

• Town in California

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Its a great little town, the fire station and school are two of the best run places in the area. Its beautiful.... Read 1 review

• grade C

• grade B

• Population 155

• Suburb in California

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  Rating 3.79 out of 5  149 reviews

Current Resident: The epitome of a college town. It's the party neighborhood for UCSB and SBCC students. There is rarely a dull moment or a quiet weekend, just don't sit on the curb: it'll ruin your night.... Read 149 reviews

• grade unavailable

• grade unavailable

• Population 14,722

• Town in California

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  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Family friendly neighborhood everyone knows each other you can see kids hanging out with each other on the street. Plenty of trails, beautiful scenery,and a ten minute drive to the nearest town.... Read 1 review

• grade unavailable

• grade unavailable

• Population 64