Eastern Goleta Valley, California

Eastern Goleta Valley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, Eastern Goleta Valley had a population of 28,656.^[3] It is located between Goleta to the west, Santa Barbara to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north and includes the communities of Noleta and Hope Ranch. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau designated the area as a census-designated place (CDP) prior to the 2020 census. Prior to the incorporation of Goleta in 2002 within a narrower set of boundaries, the area was included in the Goleta CDP.^[4]

Eastern Goleta Valley first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. census.^[22]

As of the 2020 census, Eastern Goleta Valley had a population of 28,656. The median age was 48.0 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.0 males age 18 and over.^[23][24]

94.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.7% lived in rural areas.^[25]

There were 10,208 households in Eastern Goleta Valley, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 57.0% were married-couple households, 13.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[23]

There were 10,684 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.0%.^[23]