2026 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Barbara, CA vs Plano, TX

Change Cities
Highlights
- Plano spends 10.8% less per student than Santa Barbara.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 28.9% lower in Plano than in Santa Barbara. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- Plano had 6.1% more residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Barbara
 Santa Barbara, CAPlano, TXUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$14,902$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,158  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$6,140$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.01  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock8004573
 Students per Counselor539  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock3.8%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.4.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock93.3%88.9%
 Some College Educ.18.5%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock6.5%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.50.5%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock18.1%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.6%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock2.1%1.5%
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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Barbara

Reviews for Plano    42 Reviews

I had lived in Plano for over 30 years. It is where I bought my first home as a single woman, where I married, and where I raised my children. I was fortunate enough  More

   |    Reply

We have lived in Plano for 20 years. It has been consistently rated very highly in surveys of best places to live in the US. Pros are the parks system; which includes  More

   |    Reply

Over 5 years ago

I've lived here for a while now. It's wonderful here. There's a ton to do, great jobs, great parks, and pretty good school. It's the perfect  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Plano


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.