2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Lafayette, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Lafayette?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 5.7 years younger than in Lafayette.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Lafayette?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 13.7% less expensive than Lafayette housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Lafayette?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 14.3 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Lafayette.

Things to do in Lafayette?
Lafayette, California is an affluent suburban community located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city offers a variety of shopping and recreation opportunities, including historic landmarks, scenic parks and trails, world-class golf courses, and more. With easy access to major highways and transportation options like BART, Lafayette is the perfect place for commuters. Its vibrant downtown area hosts numerous restaurants and entertainment venues that make it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Whether you're looking for culture or natural beauty, Lafayette provides plenty of options to explore.

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Lafayette, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$192,546  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,767,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.46  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Lafayette    4 Reviews

Over 14 years ago

Living in Lafayette is wonderful, if you can afford it! The rolling hills, the great schools and the climate make this a great place to  More

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Great place to raise kids, nice restaurants and some good stores. A bit sparse on things like theaters etc. Weather in Summer is HOT HOT HOT. Bring sunblock and  More

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Over 18 years ago

Summers are too cool due to marine  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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