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

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

Are housing costs cheaper in Lafayette or Santa Barbara?
- Lafayette housing costs are 15.9% more expensive than Santa Barbara housing costs.

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

 Santa Barbara, CALafayette, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock25,384329,725,481
 Median Income$89,243  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock44.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,525,500  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.3%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 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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