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Summerland vs Montecito

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: household income (2.4× in Montecito) and size (6.7× in Montecito).

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Summerland, CAHomes around $3.07MCalifornia · 1,348 people
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Montecito, CAHomes around $5.6MCalifornia · 9,031 people
Swap order
Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

SummerlandHomes around $3.07M
Housing$3.07M typical home302% above the CA typical home HealthHealthier than 89%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Summerland →
MontecitoHomes around $5.6M
Housing$5.6M typical home633% above the CA typical home Schools#1 for schools in CAof 574 towns HealthHealthier than 97%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Montecito →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Household income2.4×
Households in Montecito earn more
Montecito $231,005Summerland $95,694
Size6.7×
Montecito is the bigger place
Montecito 9,031Summerland 1,348
Street grid2.4×
Montecito has the more walkable street grid
Montecito 22.3Summerland 9.4
Trails2.5×
Montecito has more miles of trail
Montecito 14.2 miSummerland 5.6 mi
Growth since 2010+12 pts
Montecito has grown faster since 2010
Montecito -3.6%Summerland -15.6%
Bachelor’s degree++14.4 pts
More adults in Montecito have a degree
Montecito 76.3%Summerland 61.9%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $14,320 more a month in Montecito

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Summerland$17,400/mo
Typical home $3.07M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50%+ · Housing →
Montecito$31,720/mo
Typical home $5.6M (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50%+ · or rent about $3,501/mo · Housing →

The difference: $14,320 a month, about $171,800 a year, between Montecito and Summerland.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value; “+” means the Census top-codes that town’s bill at $10,000, so its real rate is higher.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
B−SummerlandBetter than 50% of districts in the state A+MontecitoBetter than 99% of districts in the state
Health
ASummerlandHealthier than 89% of U.S. towns A+MontecitoHealthier than 97% of U.S. towns
Where they are

Summerland and Montecito share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

SummerlandMontecitoSummerlandMontecito
Summerland ↔ Montecito2.6 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
7 Summerland residents work in Montecito (1.9% of its workers)
Work & commute in Summerland →
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
SummerlandMontecito
Snow a year0″0″
January low47°F47°F
July high76°F76°F
Growing season (days)365d365d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)99th96th
Outdoors & history
SummerlandMontecito
Trails6 mi14 mi
Conserved land0.4%1.2%
National Register places—3
Community
SummerlandMontecito
Library hours a week—36 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

SummerlandMontecito
People
Population 1,348Lowest 9,031Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -15.6%Lowest CA: +6.1% -3.6%Highest CA: +6.1%
Median age 53.4±7.6Highest 41% above CA 50±5.7Lowest 32% above CA
Summerland and Montecito are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 14.2%±8.2Lowest CA: 22% 14.8%±2.1Highest CA: 22%
Montecito and Summerland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 29.2%±9.3Lowest CA: 15.7% 33.5%±3.4Highest CA: 15.7%
Montecito and Summerland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 61.9%Lowest CA: 37.1% 76.3%Highest CA: 37.1%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 9.5%±11.1Lowest CA: 7.6% 18.2%±3.6Highest CA: 7.6%
Montecito and Summerland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $95,694±$84kLowest 3% below CA $231,005±$10kHighest 133% above CA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $2,000,001 172% above CA $2,000,001 172% above CA
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $3,501 72% above CA
Property taxmedian, yearly $10,000+ at least 95% above CA $10,000+ at least 95% above CA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 100%±68.4Highest CA: 55.3% 52.5%±11.8Lowest CA: 55.3%
Summerland and Montecito are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.2%Highest CA: 12% 8.3%Lowest CA: 12%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 64.3%Lowest CA: 55.9% 75.8%Highest CA: 55.9%
Typical home builtmedian year 1973Highest 3 yrs older than CA 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than CA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minHighest 25% below CA 18 minLowest 36% below CA
Work from home 41.9%±21.7Highest CA: 17.2% 33.9%±6.2Lowest CA: 17.2%
Summerland and Montecito are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 6.1%Lowest 8.8%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.3 miLowest 11.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.45Highest 1.25Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Santa Barbara (20%)Santa Barbara (31%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 2% work in MontecitoFew work in Summerland
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.4%Lowest 1.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 5.6 miLowest 14.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.8 mi 0.8 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 9.4Lowest 22.3Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#1 of 574 in CA
School district Carpinteria UnifiedCold Spring Elementary · Montecito Union Elementary
High school in town None in townNone in town
California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Summerland neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Summerland’s Town Square.

Montecito neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Getting to know Montecito

1 neighbor in Montecito can answer.

Add a town

Set another town beside Summerland and Montecito

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Bordering Summerland

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Toro Canyon1,477 people · $2M homes

Towns like Summerland

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Del Rey Oaks1,570 people · $836K homes
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Nevada City3,172 people · $677K homes
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Bradbury788 people · $2M homes
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Belvedere2,345 people · $2M homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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