2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Menlo Park, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Menlo Park?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 0.7 years older than in Menlo Park.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Menlo Park?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 38.4% less expensive than Menlo Park housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Menlo Park?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 7.9 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Menlo Park.

Things to do in Menlo Park?
Menlo Park, CA is known for being one of Silicon Valley's most innovative cities due to its phenomenal growth in business communities over the decades. Located only 30 minutes from San Francisco Bay Area beaches, it provides ample recreational activities like kayaking or sail boating plus plenty of shopping options thanks to its unique boutiques and diverse culture

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.

 Menlo Park, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$179,913  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$2,476,200  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time25.05  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Menlo Park    5 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

Cost of living is beyond absurdly  More

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Very nice. Good connection to San Francisco or San Jose or any city in between via Caltrain or bus. Weather can't be  More

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My 14mo daughter, wife and I live in Menlo Park, CA which is approximately half way between San Francisco and San Jose. To afford an upper middle class quality of life  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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