Santa Barbara is a special place for your golden years! Wealthtender ranks Santa Barbara as the best place to retire in California, praising the city for its beautiful architecture, top beaches, and consistently warm weather. You can find top senior movers in Santa Barbara to give you a smooth, efficient, and affordable move to Santa Barbara retirement communities.
But you shouldn’t hit the road for Santa Barbara just yet. You have a number of top retirement communities in Santa Barbara to choose from, each with unique features, amenities, and senior housing in Santa Barbara. You need to research your options, compare them together, and learn more about Santa Barbara senior housing. Here’s what you should know.
What Are 55 and Over Communities in Santa Barbara?
55+ communities in Santa Barbara CA are communities designed for active adults over the age of 55. Adults living in these communities can perform all major life tasks by themselves or with minimal assistance. Some communities are condo or apartment complexes while others are gated communities with Santa Barbara homes for sale.
If you look up retirement communities in Santa Barbara, you may notice other types of communities. Independent living, assisted living, and continuing care communities are for people who need daily medical assistance. Active adult communities are usually the same thing as 55 plus communities in Santa Barbara. If you want independence and safety, you should look for retirement communities in Santa Barbara.
Benefits of Living in Santa Barbara Retirement Communities
Santa Barbara retirement communities are not nursing homes. They contain luxurious amenities and special services that can make your golden years relaxing and special. Common amenities at 55 and over communities in Santa Barbara include:
- Low maintenance and maintenance-free senior housing in Santa Barbara, including open-concept Santa Barbara homes for sale
- Housekeeping, chef-prepared meals, and concierge services
- On-site beauty salons, cafes, swimming pools, community gardens, and other features
- Culturally sensitive calendar of activities, including holiday parties and religious ceremonies
- Strong sense of community, with regularly scheduled social mixers
- Access to well-manicured outdoor spaces, including walking trails that connect to Santa Barbara parks
Keep in mind that each retirement community in Santa Barbara is unique, so some offer more services than others. You should compare retirement communities in Santa Barbara together so you find the right amenities and services for your senior housing in Santa Barbara.
Rancho Franciscan Apartments | Pet-Friendly, Spacious, and Modern Santa Barbara Senior Housing
Rancho Franciscan Apartments offers Spanish-style and pet-friendly senior apartments for rent. The complex includes one and two-bedroom apartments covering between 540 and 800 square feet, providing enough space for singles and couples. All Rancho apartments have outdoor patios, spacious living rooms, and fully furnished kitchens. All Rancho apartments are also wheelchair friendly, with kitchens attached to the living and dining rooms for easy maintenance and access. Each apartment can accommodate up to two pets, including most breeds of dogs and all indoor cats.
The Rancho Franciscan staff regularly organize special events, such as monthly potlucks and bingo nights. The apartment building is located in North State, a Santa Barbara neighborhood full of top stores and restaurants. La Cumbre Plaza is one of the largest shopping malls in the city, and it’s just one block away from the complex. You can also visit the Santa Barbara YMCA down the street from Rancho Franciscan.
- Address: 221 Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
- Phone: 805-563-0343
- Amenities: Barbeque and picnic area, community clubhouse, hot tub, free high-speed internet, spa
- Housing: One and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 540 to 800 square feet for rent
- Pricing: Prices start at $2,700 a month
Laguna Cottages | Best Santa Barbara Retirement Community for Cottage-Style Apartments
Laguna Cottages is a low-income apartment complex for seniors over the age of 65. To qualify for Laguna Cottages, you must meet the requirements for low-income housing in the county. Your total assets must be below $100,000, and you cannot own real estate or more than one car. You also must be a resident of the County of Santa Barbara for two years prior to submitting your application.
Laguna Cottages contains 55 cottage-style apartments, nearly all of which are singles. A cottage-style apartment is similar to a villa or small home, containing a private entrance, a full kitchen, and a full bedroom. All Santa Barbara cottages contain environmentally-friendly and energy-saving appliances, including tankless water heaters and LED light bulbs. Laguna managers provide cable, utilities, and television at no additional cost. Managers also plan social events throughout the month, including parties and potlucks.
- Address: 803 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
- Phone: 805-965-1179
- Amenities: Community clubhouse with kitchen, gardens, laundry facilities, mail center, social calendar, on-site storage
- Housing: One or two-bedroom cottage-style apartments for rent
- Pricing: Contact for rates; rent is based on income
Villa Caridad at St. Vincent’s | Low-Income Studio Apartments in an Family-Friendly Apartment Building
St Vincents is a Santa Barbara non-profit dedicated to providing low-income housing for families and seniors. The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul sponsor and operate the charity, maintaining 95 one-bedroom units for seniors in a multi-story building called Villa Caridad. The complex is on Calle Real, which connects to State Route 154, providing access to other cities in San Fernando Valley.
You must fill out an occupancy application with St Vincents to qualify for apartments in Villa Caridad. You must supply several documents, including paycheck stubs for the last three months and Social Security benefit letters from the state and federal governments. Residents in wheelchairs can move into Saint Vincent Santa Barbara apartments, and all units are wheelchair accessible. Villa Caridad serves Spanish-speaking people and provides applications for people who can only read Spanish. Waiting lists for St Vincent apartments can be long, so be prepared to wait before you hear back. You can apply for other Santa Barbara 55+ communities during or after your application process.
St Vincent apartments contain 480 square feet of space, providing enough space for one person. All Saint Vincent Santa Barbara units are contained in one building, so you have plenty of opportunities to get to know your neighbors. Skylights and large windows in common areas provide daylight, making rooms comfortable and easy to navigate.
- Address: 4202 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA, 93110
- Phone: 805-683-4375
- Amenities: Aquatic arena, basketball court, community room with pool tables and large-screen television, computer labs, free landscaping, outdoor patios, playing fields for baseball and soccer, walking paths
- Housing: One-bedroom apartments covering 480 square feet for rent
- Pricing: Rent is based on 30% of your Adjusted Gross Income
Valle Verde | Maintenance-Free and Upscale 55 and Over Community in Santa Barbara
HumanGood is one of California’s leading managers of 55+ communities and senior housing. Valle Verde is their 55+ community in Santa Barbara, with over 40 maintenance free garden homes. You can choose a one or two-bedroom home, each with a full kitchen, spacious den, and front and back patios. You can choose from four different floor plans and add furniture and artwork wherever you want.
Valle Verde contains some of the most luxurious amenities amongst 55 and over communities in Santa Barbara. Valle Verde Santa Barbara chefs prepare gourmet meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you have multiple options for entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Managers maintain a fully-equipped woodshop, art room, library, and barbershop you can use whenever you want.
Valle Verde permits aging in place. If your health changes and you need care around the clock from doctors or nurses, you can stay in your home and receive care. HumanGood sponsors assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care programs you can receive at contracted, below-market rates. Valle Verde Santa Barbara also supports anyone who outlives their financial resources.
- Address: 900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
- Phone: 805-683-4375
- Amenities: Barbershop, educational and fitness classes, convenience store, day spa, fitness center, free housekeeping and home maintenance, library, chef-prepared meals, social calendar, swimming pool, theatre, free transportation to medical appointments, woodshop
- Housing: One and two-bedroom homes covering 785-1,227 square feet for rent
- Pricing: One-bedroom homes cost $3,868 a month with an entrance fee of $172,884; two-bedroom homes cost $6,336 a month with an entrance fee of $319,766
Shadow Hills | Quiet, Gated, and Luxurious Santa Barbara Senior Housing
Shadow Hills is a private gated community reserved for people over the age of 55. The community is located on Shadow Hills Circle in northern Santa Barbara. The community and the area around it are quiet and residential, making Shadow Hills a good place for people looking for a peaceful place to move to. Shadow Hills is conveniently located near San Antonio Canyon Park and San Marcos Foothills Preserve, two great parks with hiking trails.
Shadow Hills has some of the most upscale homes for sale amongst 55 and over communities in Santa Barbara. Homes cover over 1,500 square feet, providing space for families with young children. Many properties have sleek and modern features like oak floors, fully-stocked gourmet kitchens, and extensive shelves. Properties also have underground garage spaces you can access with elevators. These features make the price of homes in Shadow Hills expensive, and the cost of homes has risen steadily over the last few years. However, you can likely sell your home for a profit after living in it for a few years.
- Address: Shadow Hills Circle, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
- Phone: N/A
- Amenities: Community clubhouse, fitness center, citrus orchard, spa with hot tub, swimming pool, tennis courts
- Housing: Two and three-bedroom condos covering 1,677-1,766 square feet for sale
- Pricing: Prices start at $1,379,000; $1,611 monthly HOA fee
Garden Court | Downtown Santa Barbara 55 and Over Community With an Active Social Calendar
Garden Court is in Downtown Santa Barbara, one of the best neighborhoods in Santa Barbara, making it an ideal community for people looking for top attractions, shopping malls, and restaurants. The complex sponsors an endowment for low-income seniors, helping seniors cover the cost of living in Santa Barbara. Garden Court Apartments caters to seniors over the age of 62 who have an annual income of less than $22,320 a year, and all residents must be current residents of Santa Barbara. Many residents give back to the community, volunteering with organizations like Santa Barbara City College, Save the Children, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Garden Court offers studio apartments, each with a private bathroom and kitchenette. You can arrange the furniture in Garden Court apartments however you want, creating separate sitting and sleeping areas. Residents have access to a number of common spaces throughout the complex, including an outdoor courtyard with dining tables and lounge chairs. Managers plan an active social calendar, with many opportunities to volunteer in the community and work with Santa Barbara children.
- Address: 1116 De La Vina Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
- Phone: 805-884-0095
- Amenities: Beauty salon, computer room, center courtyard, outdoor dining area, resident-managed garden, twice-a-month housekeeping, laundry facilities on each floor, library, 24/7 maintenance, chef-prepared meals, outdoor meditation area, television room
- Housing: Studio apartments for rent
- Pricing: Pricing based on income; call for rates
Friendship Manor | Best Santa Barbara 55 and Over Community for Social Events
Friendship Manor is located in Goleta CA, a small city west of Santa Barbara. You can find various amenities and attractions in Goleta, including the Camino Real Marketplace, which contains a Target, Costco, and Best Buy. Friendship Manor is down the street from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), which offers free events and programs for seniors. It’s also down the street from Santa Barbara Airport, making it a good 55+ community for commuters and businesspeople.
Friendship Manor Goleta offers four floor plans for apartments, each with a spacious living and sleeping area you can also use for entertaining guests. Suites contain two living and sleeping areas, providing space for families and guests. Friendship Manor Goleta has a vibrant social calendar, with weekly parties, barbeques, and other special events. A resident-run newsletter keeps everyone up to date on what’s going on and encourages people to get active in the community.
- Address: 6647 El Colegio Road, Goleta, CA, 93117
- Phone: 805-968-0771
- Amenities: Chef-prepared meals, corner store, hair salon, laundry room, library, heated swimming pool, theatre, free transportation
- Housing: Studio, one, and two bedroom apartments for rent
- Pricing: Contact for rates; Medicare and Medicaid accepted
Map of Retirement Communities in Santa Barbara
You can use this map to find the best 55+ communities in Santa Barbara, as well as great attractions and restaurants near each community.
55+ communities in Santa Barbara CA can give you the affordable yet luxurious living you need! If you’re looking for comfortable and low-income housing, you can move into Villa Caridad or Laguna Cottages. If you’re looking for luxury retirement communities in Santa Barbara, you can live in Valle Verde or Shadow Hills.
You can also find top movers in Santa Barbara to handle your move to Santa Barbara retirement communities. Movegreen has won over 30 customer service awards over the last 16 years. Get a free moving estimate by calling 866-684-7336.
