Santa Barbara, California is a spectacular jewel of the Pacific Coast. This pleasant city offers world-class amenities, while maintaining the cozy feel of a close-knit small town. Santa Barbara is one of the few communities in the nation that may just very well be all things to all people. Its renowned southern California climate provides over three hundred days of sunshine each year, mild temperatures, and almost nonexistent humidity. Whether you seek a community of rolling hills, seashore, or open spaces, Santa Barbara has it all.

Santa Barbara's natural beauty is enhanced by the city's 1,800 acres of parkland, over 35,000 trees, and nearly sixty parks. Water sports such as surfing and sailing are popular here, and the city boasts magnificent white sand beaches on which to relax and sunbathe.

All of this combines to make Santa Barbara an attractive option for relocation. What used to be a sleepy bedroom community just a generation ago is today one of the most desirable addresses in the state. There are currently approximately 88,251 residents living in Santa Barbara. The presence of a major university in town skews the median age of a resident down to thirty five years old. Of its working-age residents, just over thirty one percent of locals here are employed in either a professional or managerial capacity. Nearly twenty seven percent of residents are employed in the service industry, while just over fourteen percent work an administrative capacity. The median household income within Santa Barbara is above the national average, coming in at around $50,152 per year.

Potential home buyers will marvel at the options in Santa Barbara. Homes here are elegant examples of the best that the region has to offer. From Craftsman bungalows to charming Mediterranean models, Santa Barbara's housing options are at once impressive and comfortable. Home ownership has proven to be a solid investment in the area, with steady appreciation over the years. The most popular option for buyers in Santa Barbara is typically a two-bedroom model. Recent sales figures indicate that the average purchase price of a home in Santa Barbara is currently $996,750.

The city is home to one of the most prestigious universities in the state, the University of California Santa Barbara. This school has repeatedly won the coveted "America's Hottest College" Award from Newsweek Magazine. It is also one of only sixty two schools in the nation to be admitted to the Association of American Universities. The school draws over twelve thousand students to study here each year, and offers over two hundred programs of study. UCSB's faculty is one of the most renowned in the nation, boasting five Nobel Prize winners, members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Of course, Santa Barbara has become widely renowned as California's newest wine district, and more and more residents are choosing to live here for the countless amenities that come with wine country living. Santa Barbara wineries have carved out a niche for producing premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The area has more than sixty wineries and tens of thousands of acres of planted vineyards. Today, wine is the largest agricultural product of Santa Barbara County. The wine regions are just a short, very scenic, drive from the city center. The numerous wineries and tasting rooms are incredibly popular destinations for locals to gather.

The town of Santa Barbara is at once a college town, a great place to raise a family, and an ideal location for retirees. Situated in the midst of spectacular natural beauty and offering a laid-back southern California lifestyle, Santa Barbara is truly one of America's finest cities. If you are thinking about moving, consider the benefits of living in Santa Barbara, California! To learn more, request our free relocation assistance today.