2025 Compare Cities Overview:
San Carlos, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in San Carlos?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 1.9 years younger than in San Carlos.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or San Carlos?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 27.5% less expensive than San Carlos housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or San Carlos?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 11.6 minutes shorter than it is for residents of San Carlos.

Things to do in San Carlos?
San Carlos, CA is located in San Mateo County and is known for its quiet residential streets enhanced by vibrant downtown business district. Residents can enjoy many outdoor activities such as sailing or golfing nearby.

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.

 San Carlos, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$204,570  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$2,103,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time28.75  Unlock26.38
Reviews for San Carlos    1 Reviews

Over 18 years ago

I have lived in San Carlos for over 15 years and absolutely love it! There is a great mix of age groups and it is becoming more ethnically diverse. Kids play on my  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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