City Report · CA

Isla Vista

Pop. 13,920·3rd most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$9,714/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

+$7,782

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Isla Vista · $9,714

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

449% of income

EXPENSIVE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $9,714/mo, rent takes about 449% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$389,000/yr

Local median income

$25,972/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Isla Vista's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($25,972) is $649 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,535).

Cheaper nearby

Santa Barbara, 7 miles away, rents for 63% less ($3,642/mo), about $72,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Isla Vista. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$116,568/yr

At $9,714/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Isla Vista, CA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 43.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

13,920

Median income

$25,972

Median age

21.2

Renters

98.8%

Age distribution

92.1%

Under 181.8%

18–3492.1%

35–542.8%

55–641%

65+2.3%

Gender

46.5%

53.5%

Male46.5%

Female53.5%

Race & ethnicity

59.1%

20.4%

16.4%

White59.1%

Black4.7%

Hispanic20.4%

Asian16.4%

Education (25+)

21.5%

26.2%

43.7%

No HS diploma8.7%

HS diploma21.5%

Some college26.2%

Bachelor's+43.7%

Housing tenure

98.8%

Owner1.2%

Renter98.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Isla Vista, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$22,386 → $25,972

up 16.0%

Population

15,732 → 13,920

down 11.5%

Renter share

99% → 98.8%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

44.3% → 43.7%

-0.6 pts

Household income in the area moved from $22,386 to $25,972 across the same window, up 16.0% versus 2021. The population has contracted by 11.5% since 2021, moving from about 15,732 residents to roughly 13,920.

Community

Discussions about Isla Vista

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View Isla Vista rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Isla Vista on your salary?

At $9,714/mo, how Isla Vista rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 104.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 147.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 127.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 71.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 56% income

severely rent-burdened

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 157.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 174.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 141.3% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Isla Vista rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Isla Vista. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Isla Vista

About renting in Isla Vista, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Isla Vista is $9,714/mo as of October 2026.

At 449% of local median household income ($25,972/yr), Isla Vista ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Isla Vista?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $389,000/year (about $187/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $9,714/mo in Isla Vista. The local median household income is $25,972/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.