Population
San Rafael
60,604
Santa Barbara
88,024
Median Income
San Rafael
$109,317
Santa Barbara
$101,672
Home Value
San Rafael
$1,246,200
Santa Barbara
$1,466,400
Rent
San Rafael
$2,346
Santa Barbara
$2,302
Crime Rate
San Rafael
5.59
Santa Barbara
6.50
Cost of Living
San Rafael
240.9
Santa Barbara
235.7
Avg Temp
San Rafael
N/A
Santa Barbara
N/A
Unemployment
San Rafael
5.8%
Santa Barbara
4.7%
How Similar Are San Rafael & Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara is San Rafael's #11 most similar city
4 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
San Rafael
60,604
Santa Barbara
88,024
Santa Barbara has a 31% larger population than San Rafael.
Violent Crime
San Rafael
5.59
Santa Barbara
6.50
Santa Barbara has a 14% higher violent crime than San Rafael.
Property Crime
San Rafael
24.56
Santa Barbara
18.10
San Rafael has a 26% higher property crime than Santa Barbara.
Political Leaning
San Rafael
16.7%
Santa Barbara
35.1%
Both cities lean Democratic, but Santa Barbara has a stronger Democratic lean (52% difference).
Unemployment
San Rafael
5.8%
Santa Barbara
4.7%
San Rafael has a 19% higher unemployment than Santa Barbara.
Median Income
San Rafael
$109,317
Santa Barbara
$101,672
Both cities have similar median income — just a 7% difference.
Home Values
San Rafael
$1,246,200
Santa Barbara
$1,466,400
Santa Barbara has a 15% higher home values than San Rafael.
Education
San Rafael
35.4%
Santa Barbara
36.2%
Both cities have similar education — just a 2% difference.
Demographics
San Rafael
57.1%
Santa Barbara
63.3%
Both cities have similar demographics — just a 10% difference.
Cost of Living
San Rafael
240.9
Santa Barbara
235.7
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 2% difference.
4 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. San Rafael and Santa Barbara share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
San Rafael
0
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara leads in 3 of 8 categories
Cost of Living & Affordability — Santa Barbara leads
Source: City Stats Index / HUDSanta Barbara has a fair market rent (2br) of $3,124 vs $3,604 in San Rafael (15% lower). Santa Barbara has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,746 vs $2,977 in San Rafael (8% lower). Santa Barbara scores 155.4 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 167.1 in San Rafael.
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Santa Barbara leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Barbara has a median property tax of $7,043 vs $10,001 in San Rafael (42% lower). San Rafael has a vacancy rate of 4.0% compared to 6.1% in Santa Barbara. San Rafael has a owner-occupied of 51.8% compared to 39.8% in Santa Barbara.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a work from home of 22.9% compared to 17.0% in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara: 48,520 vs San Rafael: 32,607 for labor force. Santa Barbara has a unemployment rate of 4.7% compared to 5.8% in San Rafael.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Santa Barbara leads
Source: FBI UCRSanta Barbara has a robbery rate (per 1k) of 0.75 compared to 1.49 in San Rafael. Santa Barbara has a burglary rate (per 1k) of 1.70 compared to 2.64 in San Rafael. Santa Barbara has a property crime clearance of 14.2% compared to 8.8% in San Rafael.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauSanta Barbara has a bachelor's degree or higher of 36.2% compared to 35.4% in San Rafael. San Rafael has a high school diploma or higher of 45.3% compared to 44.7% in Santa Barbara.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Barbara has a population of 88,024, about 1.5x the size of San Rafael (60,604). Santa Barbara skews younger with a median age of 39.4 vs 43.5.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
San Rafael
Santa Barbara
Healthcare
Source: CMS Hospital CompareSanta Barbara: 5.0 vs San Rafael: 3.4 for avg cms rating (out of 5). San Rafael: 5 vs Santa Barbara: 4 for with emergency services.
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSan Rafael has a public transit of 6.8% compared to 2.3% in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara has a bicycle of 3.2% compared to 0.9% in San Rafael. San Rafael has a work from home of 22.9% compared to 17.0% in Santa Barbara.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to San Rafael, CA
Compare San Rafael 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.