Moving to Santa Ynez? Located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, this charming unincorporated community and census-designated place offers a beautiful lifestyle on California’s Central Coast. The name Santa Ynez is an archaic spelling of “Santa Inés” in Spanish, meaning “Saint Agnes,” and the town reflects a fascinating mix of Old West history and contemporary wine culture.
Living in Santa Ynez CA means immersing yourself in a laid-back atmosphere surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards, and beautiful landscapes. The area is famous for its world-class wine country, complete with boutique tasting rooms that attract both locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re exploring the scenic countryside on horseback like the modern-day trail riders, enjoying live entertainment in one of the cozy venues in town, or simply enjoying the area’s Old West heritage, there’s something for everyone here.
Located in Santa Barbara County, living in Santa Ynez CA provides a peaceful atmosphere while still being close to the amenities of Santa Barbara. So if you’re wondering what Santa Ynez is known for, let’s dive in!
Is Santa Ynez CA a Good Place to Live?
Santa Ynez CA is a good place to live. When living in Santa Ynez CA, you’ll be situated in the heart of a vintage township in the Santa Ynez Valley, with access to local shops, art galleries, and more. You’ll also be just a short drive away from the bustling Santa Barbara.
Where Is Santa Ynez?
What county is Santa Ynez in? Santa Ynez is in Santa Barbara County and is surrounded by the Santa Ynez Valley. Located in the heart of wine country, this Central Coast city is home to many incredible vineyards. In addition to all of the wineries near Santa Ynez, living in Santa Ynez CA also offers easy access to places like Los Padres National Forest and La Purísima Mission State Historic Park.
Additionally, it is 30 miles from Santa Ynez to Santa Barbara, so residents can easily enjoy everything that Santa Barbara has to offer in less than 45 minutes via highway CA-154. Other communities you’ll have easy access to when living in Santa Ynez CA are Solvang and Mission Canyon. Although most people living in the area travel by car, you can utilize the Santa Ynez Valley Transit system.
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Santa Ynez Population & Demographics
How many people are living in Santa Ynez CA? The population of Santa Ynez is 4,716. The city of Santa Ynez is a part of Santa Barbara County, which has a population of just under 500,000. Many residents living in Santa Ynez CA are very affluent, with a median household income of $144,792 (higher than the California average of $91,905). Additionally, the CDP is very popular among families, with 66% of households being occupied by married couples.
Additional Santa Ynez Demographics:
- Sex ratio: 50% male, 50% female
- Median age: 47
- Racial & ethnic composition: 92% White (72% non-Hispanic), 4% Native, 3% two or more races, 1% Asian
- Educational attainment: 91.5% high school degree (or higher), 32.2% bachelor’s degree (or higher)
- Foreign-born population: 16%
Is Santa Ynez CA safe? Here’s an overview of the Santa Ynez crime rate:
- Overall crime: 738 crimes per 100,000 people (117% lower than the state average and 68% lower than the national average)
- Violent crime: 130 crimes per 100,000 people (119% lower than the state average and 65% lower than the national average)
- Property crime: 609 crimes per 100,000 people (120% lower than the state average and 69% lower than the national average)
Based on the above crime rates, Santa Ynez is a very safe place to live, with crime rates that are well below both the state and national averages. When living in Santa Ynez CA, you can count on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office (Solvang Station) to protect you.
Santa Ynez Cost of Living
Is living in Santa Ynez CA affordable? The Santa Ynez Cost of Living Index is 154.7, making the community 54.7% more expensive than the national average of 100. While significantly higher than the national average, it’s only 3.2% more expensive than the California average. The Santa Ynez cost of living and Santa Barbara cost of living are nearly identical.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four living in Santa Ynez CA would need to earn $154,806 per year to make a comfortable living in the CDP.
Typical Santa Ynez CA Living Expenses
- Meal at an inexpensive restaurant: $20.00
- Gallon of milk: $4.96
- Pound of chicken: $5.16
- Gallon of gas: $4.73
- Fitness membership (monthly): $66.50
- Average Santa Ynez utilities per month: $177.77
Source: Numbeo
*These numbers are for Santa Barbara, but you can expect similar figures when living in Santa Ynez CA.
If you’re searching for homes for sale in Santa Ynez CA, then be prepared to pay premium prices. According to Redfin, the median home price in Santa Ynez is $1.56 million. The Santa Ynez real estate market is somewhat competitive, with prices down 0.22% since last year. If you’re thinking about renting, you can expect to pay an average of $2,627 per month, according to RentCafe.
Neighborhoods in Santa Ynez | Where to Live in Santa Ynez CA
It’s important to find the perfect place to settle down when living in Santa Ynez CA. Because this is such a small Santa Ynez Valley community, you won’t find many distinct neighborhoods in the area. However, before moving to Santa Ynez, there are a few areas you may want to consider.
Downtown Santa Ynez is popular among young professionals living in Santa Ynez CA. The Santa Ynez downtown area is full of boutique shops, art galleries, and popular restaurants like The Baker’s Table and PANINO.
For those who want a more secluded place to live, then the outskirts of the downtown area are full of spacious streets with large homes. The area’s vast, hilly landscape is perfect for those who want to enjoy a quiet lifestyle within nature.
Santa Ynez CA Weather & Climate
The Santa Ynez climate is characterized as warm-summer Mediterranean, which means the area has dry summers and wet winters. When living in Santa Ynez CA, you’ll likely only need your raincoat during the winter months. The CDP experiences nearly all of its rainfall in the winter, as the area rarely sees any rain at all during the summer months. The Santa Ynez average annual rainfall is 20.5 inches.
The hottest month of the year in the CDP is August, when the average Santa Ynez temperature is 74ºF. The coldest month of the year is December, when you’ll see an average low of 40ºF.
Things to Do in Santa Ynez
When living in Santa Ynez CA, you can enjoy everything from live entertainment to wine tasting at a popular Santa Ynez Valley winery. These are a few fun things to do in Santa Ynez.
The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House is a great way to learn about the history of the Santa Ynez Valley. This museum features one of the best carriage collections in the entire country.
3596 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, (805) 688-7889
This is one of the best things to do in Santa Ynez with kids. At this family-friendly park, you can enjoy green space, playgrounds, and BBQ grilling areas.
3200 Cuesta Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, (805) 688-4217
When living in Santa Ynez CA, you can’t skip out on the Santa Ynez Valley wine scene. Sunstone Winery is one of the best places in Santa Ynez wine country. Here, you can enjoy tasting rooms, wine caves, and a vast lavender-filled courtyard.
125 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, (805) 688-9463
Additional Santa Ynez Attractions
If you’re still unsure of what to do in Santa Ynez, then check out the Santa Ynez Valley events calendar.
Santa Ynez Restaurants
Moving to Santa Ynez means being close to several fine dining facilities. These are the best restaurants in Santa Ynez.
Head over to Trattoria Grappolo to enjoy modern Italian dishes and local wines. This cozy restaurant in Santa Ynez is a favorite among locals, and you can enjoy your pasta and wood-fired pizza indoors or outside on the terrace.
3687 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, (805) 688-6899
This is one of the best restaurants in town and serves up New American dishes like prime rib grilled prime filet.
3539 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, (805) 688-4142
Don’t miss Pony Cocktails + Kitchen after moving to Santa Ynez. This upscale restaurant serves breakfast, coffee, and sandwiches using seasonal, fresh ingredients.
3558 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460, (805) 691-9187
Santa Ynez Jobs
Will you be looking for a job when living in Santa Ynez CA? If you want a job within the community, your best bet will be in hospitality, due to the many wineries and restaurants in the area. Because of its close proximity to Santa Barbara, most people living in Santa Ynez CA commute to work. The top employers in Santa Barbara include:
According to Payscale, the average salary of those living in the Santa Ynez/Santa Barbara area is $88,000. To find jobs in Santa Ynez, try completing a search on Indeed.
Schools in Santa Ynez
If you are moving to Santa Ynez with kids, you’ll be served by the Santa Ynez Valley Union School District and the College School District. The College School District is one of the oldest school districts in California and received the California Distinguished School Award in 2002, 2012, and 2020.
When living in Santa Ynez CA, you’ll be just a short drive away from several higher education options. The University of California, Santa Barbara, is a top-rated public research university located right by the beach and is known for its science and engineering programs.
Make sure you check out the Santa Ynez Branch Library when living in Santa Ynez CA.
Santa Ynez Statistics & Information
Here’s some information you’ll want to know when living in Santa Ynez CA.
- County: Santa Barbara County
- Santa Ynez area: 5.143 square miles
- Santa Ynez zip code: 93460
- Santa Ynez area code: 805
- Santa Ynez elevation: 607 feet
- Santa Ynez time zone: Pacific Standard Time (UTC -7 and -8)
- Closest airport to Santa Ynez: Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), 30.7 miles away
Map of Santa Ynez CA
Explore this map to find things to do when living in Santa Ynez CA.
Are You Ready to Start Living in Santa Ynez CA?
Living in Santa Ynez CA offers fantastic houses, fun things to do, and gorgeous nature. If moving to Santa Ynez sounds wonderful to you, then get in touch with our Santa Ynez movers! The team at Movegreen will get you settled into your new home in no time! Give us a call today at (866) 684-7336 to get started with a free quote.
