2026 Compare Cities Job Market:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Ann Arbor, MI

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Highlights
- Job Growth in Ann Arbor has been positive.
- Ann Arbor has 0.6% more unemployment than Santa Barbara.
- Ann Arbor job growth has increased by 7.2% in the past 10 years.
 Santa Barbara, CAAnn Arbor, MIUnited States
 Current Unemployment  Unlock3.5%6.0%
 Future Job Growth28.2%  Unlock33.5%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-6.3%-6.2%
 3 Yr. Job Growth-2.9%  Unlock-3.6%
 5 Yr. Job Growth  Unlock-0.4%-0.7%
 10 Yr. Job Growth2.7%  Unlock6.3%
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 5 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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Reviews for Ann Arbor    49 Reviews

Over 9 years ago

Highly educated city. traffic and parking is bad. university culture is nice, not sure about elsewhere. no good pizza! if you're looking for food, I recommend "a taste  More

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Uh, compared to my other favorite college towns this one lacks flavor. Safer and kinda pretty, but not the greenest place, it's fine. Good restaurants, music, art,  More

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Over 11 years ago

Ann Arbor bus service (AATA) is quite good. The Detroit Metro Airport is only a 20 min. drive away and is also quite good. The traffic in Ann Arbor is usually mild  More

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