Living in the Mesa Santa Barbara offers the culmination of California lifestyles, where sunshine, beaches, recreation, and community converge.
The Mesa is one of the most popular neighborhoods of Santa Barbara and a place where young professionals and families thrive against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. If you've ever wondered what this desirable neighborhood is truly like, welcome to your ultimate guide!
Where is The Mesa Santa Barbara?
The Mesa is a west coast neighborhood located in the southern expanse of Santa Barbara, bordered by beautiful beaches and other neighborhoods in Santa Barbara, including Westside, Bel Air, Campanil, and West Beach.
Downtown Santa Barbara to The Mesa is a short 10-minute drive, depending on where you're leaving from, as The Mesa Santa Barbara is broken down into three zones - West Mesa, East Mesa, and Alta Mesa.
Elings Park and Arroyo Burro Beach County Park are on the east side of the neighborhood, while its limits extend all along the coast to Santa Barbara Point. Santa Barbara Highway 101 is just north, making it an accessible locale, while public transportation for those visiting or living in the Mesa Santa Barbara is offered through The Santa Barbara MTD.
Map of The Mesa Santa Barbara CA
Discover what it's like living in The Mesa Santa Barbara with this interactive map!
The Mesa History & Overview
The Mesa neighborhood has quite the rich history, both in metaphor and in the soil that farmers once tilled, cultivating not just crops but a foundation for the thriving community that flourishes here now. But let's go back even further.
The lands of the Mesa were, aside from two small villages of The Chumash Native Americans on each side of the now neighborhood, uninhabited until the late 1700s. Mesa, the Spanish word meaning 'table', was used to describe the high up, plateaued area in which the earliest Spanish settlers made landfall and became the first to establish any sort of stronghold here.
Following the United States' victory over Mexico in the Mexican-American war, California was thus acquired by the U.S. in 1848, and, therefore, so was the area that would become the Mesa neighborhood. Aside from some small residential development, it was mostly quiet until the discovery of the Mesa Oil Field in the 1920s, which took over the area until the last oil well closed in 1971.
The oil boom of the 1920s left its mark on the landscape, with derricks standing tall across what is now a tranquil residential zone.
It wasn't until the post-WWII housing shortage that this real residential development began, and now living in The Mesa Santa Barbara means living in a locale that's brimming with things to do and natural beauty.
Population numbers are difficult to gather, being a collection of three different zones (East, West, and Alta Mesa), but most estimates place it in the 11,000 range, with a median age of around 41 and a median household income that exceeds the $120,000 mark.
What’s It Like Living in The Mesa?
Nowadays, living in The Mesa Santa Barbara CA brings you to an area full of young professionals and more mature locals who enjoy a distinctly high quality of life. It's an excellent place for families to thrive, seeing as how there are countless parks, beach access, and quality amenities right out your doorstep.
Home to Santa Barbara City College, this youthful demographic adds to the energetic nature of the area.
The Mesa is a highly walkable neighborhood where you'll stop by cafes, restaurants, and local shops during your stroll. While shopping and dining are a popular resident pastime, active lifestyles are a commonality. You'll see people surfing, jogging, soaking up some sun during a picnic along the sandy shores, or simply reading a book under a shaded tree.
In fact, one of the major perks of living in The Mesa Santa Barbara is its mild microclimate, with cooler temperatures in the summer and warmer days in the winter, perfect for year-round outdoor living.
The community is pretty tight-knit, and while it's close to Santa Barbara and other cities in Santa Barbara, The Mesa is a tranquil piece of paradise that enjoys a suburban lifestyle, where the hustle and bustle feel just far enough away.
Things to Do in The Mesa California – Best Restaurants, Attractions & Shopping
This is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Santa Barbara, and a big draw is the countless number of things to do while living in The Mesa Santa Barbara.
Starting with the shopping, Mesa Shopping Center, located on Cliff Drive, caters to a wide variety of retail interests, and the Paseo Nuevo Shopping Mall is also just a short jaunt away. Mesa’s Lazy Acres Natural Market is the place to be if you need groceries or picnic goodies, offering fresh produce and organic goods in an upscale grocery setting.
It's always a good time to head outside and hit the beaches of The Mesa Santa Barbara. Hendry's Beach in Arroyo Burro Beach County Park and Mesa Lane Beach are stunning seaside escapes in West Mesa, while Shoreline Park and the renowned 1000 Steps Beach are located in East Mesa. These are all-alluring locales where surfing, sunshine, and the best of the West Coast come to life.
If you don't feel like getting sandy, there are so many parks to explore, including La Mesa Park, Honda Valley Park, Hilda McIntyre Ray City Park, and neighboring Elings Park.
Douglas Family Preserve, located above Arroyo Burro County Beach on a, you guessed it, 'mesa', is a great place for an afternoon stroll.
Being a Santa Barbara neighborhood, you're also close to major city attractions like the Santa Barbara Zoo and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, so it's easy to live an active, engaged lifestyle.
And when you're hungry, the restaurants on The Mesa Santa Barbara surely don't disappoint. Cliff Drive is scattered with local favorites, such as Mesa Burger, which serves up incredible burgers and fries, and Alcazar Tapas Bar, the perfect place for a drink and small bites, among many others.
Then, there's always Boathouse at Hendry's Beach, where you'll find sensational seafood and beautiful views at this must-visit restaurant. Rose Cafe is the perfect spot for those living in The Mesa Santa Barbara who love a good Mexican dish with an awesome atmosphere.
- Lazy Acres Natural Market - 302 Meigs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-564-4410)
- Arroyo Burro Beach County Park - 2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-687-3714)
- Mesa Lane Beach, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
- Shoreline Park - Shoreline Dr & Santa Rosa Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-564-5418)
- 1000 Steps Beach - 1429 Shoreline Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
- La Mesa Park - 295 Meigs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-564-5418)
- Honda Valley Park - 961 Miramonte Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-564-5418)
- Elings Park - 1298 Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805-569-5611)
- Douglas Family Preserve - Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-897-2524)
- Santa Barbara Zoo - 500 Ninos Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 (805-962-5339)
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805-682-4726)
- Mesa Burger - 315 Meigs Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-963-7492)
- Alcazar Tapas Bar - 1812 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-962-0337)
- Boathouse at Hendry's Beach - 2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-898-2628)
- Rose Cafe - 1816 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 (805-965-5513)
Schools in The Mesa Santa Barbara
Schools in The Mesa are overseen by the Santa Barbara Unified School District, which ensures quality education to residents of the neighborhood. Monroe Elementary School caters to K-6th grade students living in The Mesa Santa Barbara and is a three-time recipient of California Distinguished School Award winner three times, while Washington Elementary School also serves this age range.
The older students will most likely attend Santa Barbara Junior High and Santa Barbara High School, both just outside neighborhood limits, while Olive Grove Charter School is a sought after public charter school offering tuition-free educational pathways.
Well known to the area as a staple to pursuing higher education is Santa Barbara City College. Opened in 1909, Santa Barbara city college offers an affordable, top-tier college education while contributing to the fun, diverse dynamic of the neighborhood.
Unique to The Mesa Santa Barbara is the Library On The Go, a mobile library platform that can do anything from setting up outdoor library spaces to mobile pickup, ensuring education and creativity never stop.
Is The Mesa Santa Barbara CA Safe?
The Santa Barbara crime rate is 12.1% lower than the California average and just 7.6% higher than the national average, numbers that reflect an already safe city. While there's no FBI data for The Mesa specifically, it's known as one of the safer parts of Santa Barbara, with estimates placing it up to 40% safer than the national average.
You can keep up with the city crime map for incidents in the area, and you'll more often notice a consolidation of recent crimes outside of the neighborhood boundaries, further solidifying that The Mesa is a safe, secure place to call home.
These safety stats are proudly upheld by the Santa Barbara Police Department and the caring community living in The Mesa Santa Barbara.
The Mesa Santa Barbara Real Estate
The homes for sale in The Mesa Santa Barbara feature a median sale price of $2,692,000, which equates to $1.49K/square foot, so it's safe to say this an enticing neighborhood as reflected by a competitive real estate market. While there's a variety of styles, many offer classic California charm with a touch of luxury.
Single family homes command the highest prices, at a $2.8 million median, while townhomes and apartments for sale offer lower figures. At $2,960/month, Santa Barbara already presents average rents far higher than the national average, and while there's no set average for The Mesa, you can expect prices around and beyond this price point.
That said, there's not a ton of apartment availability, especially in East and West Mesa, as a majority of the residential area is homes, and most of the apartments are located in Alta Mesa.
If you're moving to The Mesa Santa Barbara CA, be it to one of the gorgeous ocean view mansions or a more quaint retreat from the city, don't let the challenges of moving day stack against you.
Our dedicated team of Santa Barbara County movers is always just a phone call away, reachable at 866-684-7336 to discuss a variety of moving services and provide a free, no-hassle quote for your transition. Let’s make living in The Mesa Santa Barbara a reality!
