Population

Hercules

26,245

Goleta

32,693

Median Income

Hercules

$130,583

Goleta

$118,039

Home Value

Hercules

$741,200

Goleta

$1,002,500

Rent

Hercules

$3,003

Goleta

$2,385

Crime Rate

Hercules

1.68

Goleta

2.05

Cost of Living

Hercules

236.8

Goleta

217.4

Avg Temp

Hercules

N/A

Goleta

N/A

Unemployment

Hercules

4.7%

Goleta

4.3%

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How Similar Are Hercules & Goleta?

Goleta is Hercules's #18 most similar city

4/10

4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Hercules

26,245

vs

Goleta

32,693

Different · 20% difference

Goleta has a 20% larger population than Hercules.

Violent Crime

Hercules

1.68

vs

Goleta

2.05

Different · 18% difference
🚨

Goleta has a 18% higher violent crime than Hercules.

Property Crime

🔒

Hercules

6.73

vs

Goleta

15.69

Different · 57% difference

Goleta's property crime is significantly higher than Hercules's — 57% difference.

Political Leaning

Hercules

29.4%

vs

Goleta

35.1%

Different · 16% difference
🗳️

Both cities lean Democratic, but Goleta has a stronger Democratic lean (16% difference).

Unemployment

💼

Hercules

4.7%

vs

Goleta

4.3%

Match · 9% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 9% difference.

Median Income

Hercules

$130,583

vs

Goleta

$118,039

Match · 10% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 10% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Hercules

$741,200

vs

Goleta

$1,002,500

Different · 26% difference

Goleta has a 26% higher home values than Hercules.

Education

Hercules

34.5%

vs

Goleta

32.0%

Match · 7% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 7% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Hercules

16.8%

vs

Goleta

51.5%

Different · 67% difference

Goleta's demographics is significantly higher than Hercules's — 67% difference.

Cost of Living

Hercules

236.8

vs

Goleta

217.4

Match · 8% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 8% difference.

4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Hercules and Goleta share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Hercules

vsof 8

0

Goleta

Hercules leads in 3 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Goleta leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Goleta scores 114.1 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 199.6 in Hercules. Hercules has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,385 vs $2,746 in Goleta (13% lower). Goleta scores 217.4 on the overall cost index (100 = national avg) vs 236.8 in Hercules.

Overall Cost Index

Hercules236.8
Goleta217.4

Housing Index

Hercules350.0
Goleta347.6

Food Index

Hercules149.8
Goleta140.2

Transportation Index

Hercules199.6
Goleta114.1

Healthcare Index

Hercules139.8
Goleta132.2

Utilities Index

Hercules179.9
Goleta173.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Hercules$104,204
Goleta$95,677

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Hercules$246,299
Goleta$226,147

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Hercules$2,385
Goleta$2,746

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Hercules$2,912
Goleta$3,124

Housing Market

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Hercules has a owner-occupied of 81.1% compared to 51.2% in Goleta. Hercules has a single-family homes of 78.6% compared to 54.5% in Goleta. Hercules has a vacancy rate of 3.1% compared to 4.7% in Goleta.

Median Home Value

Hercules$741,200
Goleta$1,002,500

Median Rent

Hercules$3,003
Goleta$2,385

Median Property Tax

Hercules$7,230
Goleta$5,983

Owner-Occupied

Hercules81.1%
Goleta51.2%

Vacancy Rate

Hercules3.1%
Goleta4.7%

Single-Family Homes

Hercules78.6%
Goleta54.5%

Jobs & Economy

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Hercules has a poverty rate of 5.4% compared to 10.6% in Goleta. Goleta: 18,862 vs Hercules: 14,530 for labor force. Hercules has a median household income of $130,583 vs $118,039 in Goleta (11% higher).

Median Household Income

Hercules$130,583
Goleta$118,039

Per Capita Income

Hercules$56,098
Goleta$52,610

Poverty Rate

Hercules5.4%
Goleta10.6%

Unemployment Rate

Hercules4.7%
Goleta4.3%

Labor Force

Hercules14,530
Goleta18,862

Mean Commute

HerculesN/A
Goleta16 min

Work from Home

Hercules18.1%
Goleta17.9%

Private Sector

Hercules82.4%
Goleta89.2%

Government Sector

Hercules36.9%
Goleta39.6%

Crime & Safety — Hercules leads

Source: FBI UCR

Hercules has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 0.67 compared to 2.05 in Goleta. Hercules has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 4.71 compared to 12.87 in Goleta. Hercules has a property crime rate (per 1k) of 6.73 compared to 15.69 in Goleta.

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Hercules1.68
Goleta2.05

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Hercules6.73
Goleta15.69

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Hercules0.00
Goleta0.00

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Hercules0.34
Goleta0.43

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Hercules1.35
Goleta1.47

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Hercules0.67
Goleta2.05

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Hercules4.71
Goleta12.87

Violent Crime Clearance

Hercules64.4%
Goleta67.2%

Property Crime Clearance

Hercules28.3%
Goleta24.0%

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Avg Annual High

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Avg Annual Low

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Sunny Days per Year

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Annual Rainfall

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Annual Snowfall

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Avg Humidity

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Schools & Education — Hercules leads

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Hercules has a high school diploma or higher of 44.8% compared to 40.8% in Goleta. Hercules has a bachelor's degree or higher of 34.5% compared to 32.0% in Goleta.

Public Schools

Hercules0
Goleta0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

HerculesN/A
GoletaN/A

Colleges & Universities

Hercules0
Goleta0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Hercules34.5%
Goleta32.0%

High School Diploma or Higher

Hercules44.8%
Goleta40.8%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Goleta has a population of 32,693, about 1.2x the size of Hercules (26,245). Goleta skews younger with a median age of 35.5 vs 43.5.

Population

Hercules26,245
Goleta32,693

Median Age

Hercules44
Goleta36

Avg Household Size

Hercules2.8
Goleta2.7

Married Population

Hercules47.2%
Goleta38.0%

Foreign Born

Hercules34.8%
Goleta22.6%

White

Hercules16.8%
Goleta51.5%

Black

Hercules18.7%
Goleta2.3%

Hispanic

Hercules14.8%
Goleta36.7%

Asian

Hercules43.9%
Goleta11.4%

Hercules

Goleta

Healthcare — Goleta leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Goleta: 4 vs Hercules: 3 for with emergency services. Goleta: 3.7 vs Hercules: 3.3 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Hercules5
Goleta5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Hercules3.3
Goleta3.7

With Emergency Services

Hercules3
Goleta4

Transportation & Commute — Hercules leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Hercules has a public transit of 9.1% compared to 2.4% in Goleta. Goleta has a bicycle of 3.6% compared to 0.1% in Hercules. Hercules has a drive alone of 62.9% compared to 61.7% in Goleta.

Mean Commute Time

HerculesN/A
Goleta16 min

Drive Alone

Hercules62.9%
Goleta61.7%

Public Transit

Hercules9.1%
Goleta2.4%

Bicycle

Hercules0.1%
Goleta3.6%

Work from Home

Hercules18.1%
Goleta17.9%

Airports

Hercules0
Goleta0

Cities Similar to Hercules, CA

Compare Hercules against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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