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Locations & Neighborhood Profiles

Below you will find a list of the different communities in the Santa Barbara area and a brief neighborhood profile to help you to determine where you would like to live.

Isla Vista: The town of Isla Vista (also referred to as “IV”) is immediately adjacent to the campus and is where the majority of UCSB’s undergraduate students reside. While some single-family homes are present in IV, it is primarily filled with apartment buildings. IV is considered to be your typical “college town”.

Advantages:

  • Five to 10-minute bike ride to campus
  • Ability to live “car-free”
  • Many small restaurants and stores within walking distance
  • Close proximity to the Pacific Ocean

Disadvantages:

  • High rent
  • Apartments not always well-maintained due to high student turnover rate
  • Students can get loud and rowdy

Goleta & Ellwood: Approximately four miles from campus, Goleta and Ellwood provide the most affordable living in the Santa Barbara area. Graduate students can be found living in many of the apartments in Ellwood, whereas Goleta tends to be a more suburban community.

Many homes in Goleta offer private rooms or guesthouses on private properties. Please note that while these rentals are less expensive, it may come at the cost of important amenities, such as a private bathroom, full kitchen and laundry facilities. In lieu of a full kitchen, many provide a “kitchenette” which includes a hot plate, microwave, and/or a refrigerator.

Advantages:

  • Bike-friendly roads and paths
  • Many grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers
  • Quiet communities
  • Inexpensive compared to other areas

Disadvantages:

  • Longer bike commute to campus
  • Private room rentals may have less amenities in living space, such as a full kitchen

Santa Barbara – Downtown, San Roque, The Mesa:
This area is the furthest from campus – approximately 10 miles away. If you do not have a vehicle, an express bus service directly from the downtown bus station to campus is available (Line 24X), which takes approximately 20 minutes. The housing opportunities are similar to that of Goleta and Ellwood, but at higher costs. If you are looking for more of a “city” experience, this is the place to stay. This area has an abundance of great restaurants, shops, cultural events, entertainment and nightlife. Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is located in The Mesa area and apartment living near the college has a similar vibe to IV.

Advantages:

  • Abundance of restaurants and activities
  • Wide variety of housing options close to the city center
  • Quiet, residential neighborhoods
  • Close proximity to the Pacific Ocean

Disadvantages:

  • High rent
  • Far from campus; longer commute
  • Housing for renters is competitive