Income needed to buy a home
Santa Barbara County, CA
$323,011
a year in household income to buy the typical Santa Barbara County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$991,951
Down payment (10%)$99,195
Loan$892,756
Principal and interest (7.40%)$6,181/mo
Property tax (0.59% a year)$488/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$496/mo
Mortgage insurance$372/mo
Total monthly cost$7,537/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Out of reach
The typical household here earns $98,161 a year, 30% of what it takes.
In California
Santa Barbara County ranks #51 of 58 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in California
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Modoc County | $195,654 | $64,354 |
| Lassen County | $234,567 | $78,175 |
| Trinity County | $257,616 | $80,870 |
| Siskiyou County | $280,435 | $91,399 |
| Lake County | $307,740 | $101,584 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.