2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Castro Valley, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Castro Valley older or younger than people in Santa Barbara?
- The Median Age in Castro Valley is 3.3 years older than in Santa Barbara.

Are housing costs cheaper in Castro Valley or Santa Barbara?
- Castro Valley housing costs are 31.3% less expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Castro Valley or Santa Barbara?
- The average commute for residents of Castro Valley is 17.0 minutes longer than it is for residents of Santa Barbara.

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.

Things to do in Castro Valley?
Castro Valley, California is a thriving community located in the heart of Alameda County. This vibrant city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as historic Redwood Canyon or one of many popular restaurants. Residents here also take advantage of all the outdoor activities available at Lake Chabot Regional Park, Cull Canyon Regional Park, and Castro Valley Community Park. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Castro Valley their home.

 Santa Barbara, CACastro Valley, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock66,324329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock42.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time17.15  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Castro Valley    7 Reviews

CURMUDGEON - THANK YOU for your post. The most important part of your comment is your second paragraph. "Hodge-Podge" is the correct word for a lot of Castro  More

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Over 11 years ago

Kind of rural but close to Oakland and San  More

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Castro Valley is the largest unincorporated "city" in the Bay Area. Over the years, several attempts have been made to incorporate, but they have all been defeated at  More

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