Santa Barbara County, California home prices
Typical home $988,595 · +4.3% in a year · property tax 0.65%
The typical home in Santa Barbara County is worth $988,595, 30% more than the California typical home ($761,538). Values changed +4.3% in the past year and +30.2% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 0.65% of their home's value in property tax each year ($6,380 on the typical home), versus 0.72% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical Santa Barbara County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $197,719 | $790,876 | $5,320 | $0 | $1,026 | $6,346 | $272,000 |
| 10% down | $98,860 | $889,736 | $5,985 | $371 | $1,026 | $7,382 | $316,400 |
| 5% down | $49,430 | $939,166 | $6,318 | $391 | $1,026 | $7,735 | $331,500 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $34,601 | $970,689 | $6,530 | $437 | $1,026 | $7,993 | $342,600 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 0.65% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in California · part of the Santa Maria metro area.
California counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | $1,044,951 | -0.4% | 0.78% |
| San Diego County | $926,979 | +0.8% | 0.68% |
| San Luis Obispo County | $897,661 | +2.0% | 0.68% |
| Los Angeles County | $871,674 | +0.4% | 0.68% |
| Ventura County | $869,794 | +1.1% | 0.68% |
| Napa County | $869,491 | -1.0% | 0.69% |
| Monterey County | $841,129 | +1.2% | 0.63% |
| Santa Cruz County | $1,136,188 | +4.8% | 0.64% |
| Orange County | $1,174,873 | +3.2% | 0.66% |
| Sonoma County | $782,980 | +0.8% | 0.7% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in Santa Barbara County, CA?
The typical home value in Santa Barbara County is $988,595 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Santa Barbara County?
About $272,000 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in Santa Barbara County?
The median effective rate is 0.65% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).