$1,705,722Average Value$1,128Average Price per Sq Ft1Home For Sale
Spanish Colonial influence and highway access
Located along Interstate 101 and near the beach, Downtown Santa Barbara is this picturesque city's arts and culture capital. The Spanish Colonial influence is apparent in the beautiful architecture and historic structures like El Presidio Park, a historical site housing the remnants of a 1782 fortress. "It's pretty eclectic and can get very expensive," says John Finseth, a second-generation Santa Barbara resident and Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. "The convenience is good, but it comes with a price."
The courthouse in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
State Street runs through Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
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Cultural and arts cornerstone
Downtown Santa Barbara is the city’s cultural cornerstone, boasting museums, galleries, theaters and historical sites. Over 80,000 Santa Barbara Historical Museum artifacts tell the city’s story and history. The lush grounds and rustic Spanish Colonial architecture make it the perfect place for a wedding or photoshoot. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has regular events like the Summer Jazz concert and art and sustainability classes for kids. Their robust collection includes ancient Americans, 19th and 20th-century European sculpture, and midcentury abstract art. The Arlington Theatre is a historic Spanish Mission-style theater with first-run films, stand-up comedy acts and big-name bands. Visitors rave about the venue, which has a ceiling adorned with lights that twinkle like stars when the lights dim, and they say there are no bad seats in the house.
Watch a movie at the Harington in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
See a show at The Granada in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
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An eclectic housing market with multi-million-dollar homes
Housing options in the downtown area are limited primarily to apartment condos, Spanish Revival townhouses and modest single-family bungalows. In addition to younger tech workers, the community features a broader cross-section of longtime residents and part-timers. “There are a lot of vacation rentals and Airbnbs,” Finseth says. “There are also snowbirds and people from around the world buying second properties here, who stay just once a month or a few times a year.” The floor pricing will be around $1 million, but a two-bedroom, three-bath condo with about 2,500 square feet can list for over $3.5 million. “Inventory is limited, and properties don’t stay on the market long,” says Keller William agent Caleb Overton, a resident of Santa Barbara since 1999.
Spanish style home in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
Bungalow style home in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
Victorian style home in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
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Eclectic green spaces and public gardens
Though Downtown Santa Barbara is an urban neighborhood, some nearby pocket parks and green spaces exist. The architecture is a wonder, and the gardens are glorious at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Inside are paintings depicting the region’s history; outside is a water feature and coastal landscaping. Alameda Park is a tranquil two-block park with a pond, vintage bandstand, and sizable play structure. It is shaded by many rare trees. Across East Micheltorena Street is the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, with various trees and plant species, koi ponds, a picnic area and a butterfly garden. Downtown is just a few blocks from West Beach, a wide sandy stretch offering kayak and paddle board rentals. Towering coastal palms paint the foreground, and the Santa Ynez Mountains form a beautiful backdrop in the distance.
Grab a coffee with friends at Caje in Downtown Santa Barbara.
Downtown Santa Barbara offers both historic and modern attractions.
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Shopping on State Street and trendy refreshment in "The Funk Zone"
Downtown Santa Barbara is highly walkable to shopping and dining destinations. The main promenade, State Street, is lined by trees and countless boutiques, theaters, restaurants, retail stores and hotels. The largest retail hub, Paseo Nuevo, offers outdoor mall shopping and dining with more than 70 businesses. The Santa Cruz Market on West Montecito Street is the place to store fresh, authentic Mexican ingredients. Ralphs Fresh Fare is a traditional grocery store with a pharmacy and a bakery. Residents can shop for homemade craft goods and locally grown produce on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings at the downtown farmers market.
Residents have over a half-dozen coffee options in the neighborhood, including the Santa Barbar Roasting Company and Handlebar Coffee Roasters, a bicycle-themed coffee shop brewing its own roasted beans. The Habit Burger Grill is a casual, laidback eatery with patio seating under bright red umbrellas and string lights. The burgers are the show's star, but the chicken sandwich and onion rings are also stand outs. Loquita Santa Barbara on State Street is a high-end farm-fresh Spanish tapas restaurant with craft cocktails served inside a charming venue with innovative lighting concepts and lush outdoor seating. On the other side of the I-101 freeway, the city’s so-called Funk Zone highlights the arts and culture scene in a district buttressed by trendy wineries and breweries inside converted shipping warehouses.
Meritage Wine Market can help you find that special bottle in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
There are many historical buildings in Downtown Santa Barbara.
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High-performing public schools
Santa Barbara Unified serves children and is ranked in the top 10% of California school districts by Niche, giving it an A grade. Kids can start their education at Roosevelt Elementary, an above-average school graded B-plus by Niche but with an A in diversity. The next step is Santa Barbara Junior High, another B-plus school. Santa Barbara Senior High is a highly rated standout school graded A by Niche. The school’s grand Spanish-inspired primary building was built in 1924 and was designated a historic landmark in 2005. The school has robust academic programs, including pathways and academies in sports medicine, construction tech, culinary arts and computer science.
The courses at Peabody Charter Elementary in Santa Barbara encourage critical thinking.
Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Barbara challenges and encourages children to learn.
San Marcos Senior High School in Santa Barbara has dozens of effective teachers.
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Walkable with public transportation options
Most Downtown Santa Barbara residents have a personal vehicle, but no neighborhood in the city is more walkable. Public transportation options include bus routes along most major thoroughfares and a train station serviced by Amtrak. Interstate 101 curves through the neighborhood, providing easy highway access to the whole region. The airport and UC Santa Barbara are about 10 miles west of downtown.
You can head to Downtown Santa Barbara to get a good day of shopping done.
Hop on a public bike in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Downtown Santa Barbara, mixed use Spanish Style building with 5614 sq feet of rented office/commercial space with a new buildout, high ceilings, open floor plan, and private office spaces. An additional 1911 sq foot, plus large deck space, Spanish Style residential penthouse with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, full kitchen, and roof deck and 360 views of Santa Barbara. Located on Chapala and Victoria, 1
Ahhh, BUNGALULU, a stand-alone cottage hiding precisely 800 baby steps from Paseo Nuevo! She is hidden from the street inside a secret gated Oasis. Filled with treasures from far and wide, curated with the utmost attention to detail. You will want for nothing, can shop till you drop, eat till you can't, dance till it's time, drink till you better stop, then roll home to little Bungalulu as
Mimi GreenbergBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
Tiny footsteps from the heart of the Historical District, The Annex percolates CHARM. Built at the turn of the century i.e. porches, huge windows, formal dining rm, sky high ceilings, rolling parlor doors, wood floors furnished with curated chichi vintage decor and dreamy cloud-like beds. A novel way to earmark your Santa Barbara experience, most especially on foot. If you are seeking a snappy
Mimi GreenbergBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
This is a furnished listing. Casa de Coco is waaay cute! Smack dab in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, 800 tiny steps to the western entrance of the Paseo Nuevo Outdoor Mall, walkscore of 98% (a walker's paradise)! Fresh as a daisy (red geranium?), crisp linens, soft featherbeds, cozy wood floors, fancy formal dining room, sun filled eat in
Mimi GreenbergBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Susan Pate,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
739
Median Age
39
Population Density
5 ppl/acre
Population under 18
16.5%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$58,484
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$86,658
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
92.1%
College Graduates
52.1%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
21.2%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
67.9%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
16''
Average Winter Low Temperature
41°F
Average Summer High Temperature
74°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
95/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
55/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
