2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Solana Beach, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Solana Beach?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 7.3 years younger than in Solana Beach.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Solana Beach?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 19.4% less expensive than Solana Beach housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Solana Beach?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 6.1 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Solana Beach.

Things to do in Solana Beach?
Solana Beach, CA is an incorporated city situated north of San Diego in San Diego County with a population estimated around 13400 people living there. Solana Beach provides visitors access to Fletcher Cove Beach open 365 days a year along with many restaurants offering cuisines from Asian-fusion to classic American taking advantage of locally sourced ingredients gathered at regular farmers markets held all over town. Tourists can also find here great shopping opportunities while enjoying breathtaking views while strolling through Cedros Avenue Design District displaying works from renowned artists or experience annual Fiestas de Las Lanchas celebration honoring this community's long standing Mexican heritage making it one of the most popular destination in California.

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.

 Solana Beach, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$113,903  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,893,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time23.2  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Solana Beach    3 Reviews

I've lived in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Venice Beach, Hermosa Beach, San Luis Obispo, Carlsbad, Encinitas and my wife and I saved up every penny we could to buy a  More

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Rent has skyrocketed in Solana Beach in the past ten years. High rent and more people cramming into single person rental units.   More

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Over 20 years ago

Very expensive. Being from east coast it was hard because people dont speak to you in normal situations..example , picking up kids from school ..if you pass a parent  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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