Buellton, 2008
Buellton’s story
106 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,402 in 1970, 5,161 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 2002 and 5 maps from 1942 on.
- 1920Buellton is settled
Photo: Taken by Antandrus · Public domain
Population
5,158
2025 Census estimate · −0.8% since 2020
Typical home
$901K
+3.3% in a year
Household income
$100K
median
Median age
39.0
years
Jobs based here
3,357
Balanced
TownGrade
B−
#172 of 841 in CA
Is Buellton a good place to live?
The typical home is worth about $901K, 9.2 years of the Santa Maria metro’s $98K median household income. Overall it grades B−, 172nd of 841 graded towns in California. Residents are healthier than 86% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates and the median household earns $100K. Its weakest subject is hazard risk: FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 86% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Buellton’s median rent is $2,194 a month, above both the California town median ($1,895 a month) and the median of U.S. towns ($1,185 a month). Buellton is more walkable than 71% of U.S. towns.
What makes Buellton stand out
Where Buellton beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
32 measures vs. California
12 better18 too close to call2 worse
| Widest gap | Buellton | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 17.9% |
HealthA
Healthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
WalkabilityB+
More walkable than 71% of U.S. towns
1.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD
Inland flooding and earthquakes at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
How Buellton grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Buellton is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →HealthSanta Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital 3.9 miles awayAOpen →Jobs & incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.2 of 20; 1.9% of households have no carB+Open →SchoolsB+Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landBOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life7.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 82° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market50 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 39.0–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Buellton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Buellton, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of Buellton Water DivisionNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
SchoolsBuellton Union Elementary School DistrictSanta Ynez Valley Union High School District2 districts serve Buellton; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSanta Barbara County Clerk-ElectionsSanta Barbara County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9342793427 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Buellton.
Buellton fares better on crime within California than nationally, has less food insecurity than most of California and has added a third more jobs in ten years.
HealthA
For health, Buellton earns an A
Its widest gap with California is food insecurity: 10.6% of its 3,935 adults worry about having enough food, against 17.9% statewide.
26% of Buellton adults have obesity. Buellton beats the California average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 31% of Buellton adults sleep under 7 hours.
87%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Buellton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 29% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 35% | 36% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 24% | 25% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9.5% | 11% | 14% |
32 measures vs. California
12 better18 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Buellton | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 10.6% | 17.9% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 6.9% | 10.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.5% | 6.4% |
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital
3.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
79th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsB+
On state tests, Buellton’s schools beat 70% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Buellton Union Elementary school district. One of its 3 schools is below, with why it’s listed.
70%of CA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Valley ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 377 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Buellton, with inland flooding at the top
86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesDrought
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
#474for trails in CA
| Buellton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 1.7% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
1.7%
conserved · 17 of 1,009 acres
1.1 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. River View Park | 0.2 mi | 14 |
| 2. PAWS Dog Park | — | 5 |
| 3. Oak Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in Buellton
Buellton has mild winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. The July high in Buellton is 81°F.
82°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter40–65°
Spring45–70°
Summer53–80°
Fall48–77°
+2.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
82°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, Buellton earns a D−
59% of households own their home in Buellton. The typical Buellton home is worth about $901,000, up 3.3% in a year, 18% above the California typical home.
$901KZillow home value
Typical home value
Buellton$901K
California$762K
Market temperature
50
days on market
96.4%
sale-to-list price
+3.3%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Buellton has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 3,073 people commute in
Jobs based here grew from 2,260 in 2013 to 3,357.
Most working residents leave Buellton for work: only 12% work in town. Since 2013, Buellton has added 1,097 jobs, to 3,357 in 2023. The top destinations are Santa Barbara (15%), Goleta (10%) and Solvang (9%).
12%work in town
| Buellton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 12% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Median household income | $100,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Buellton12%
Santa Barbara15%
Goleta10%
Solvang9%
Santa Ynez4%
25 mi
median commute distance
3,357
jobs based in Buellton
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 71% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than California overall
Adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (39% statewide). 39% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
39median age · CA 37.9
| Buellton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 39% | 29% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 15% | 16% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 21% | 22% | 22% |
BuelltonCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma9%
High school13%
Some college25%
Associate’s14%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.5 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| Buellton | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 11.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.9% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.5% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 18% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.1% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.3% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 8.4% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6.2% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.5% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 13.1% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 24.7% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 14.2% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 23.7% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.7% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
SafetyB−
Buellton is safer than 52% of U.S. towns, by crime per resident
At 17.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 81% of California’s graded towns.
Buellton’s property crime rate is 7.6 per 1,000 residents.
52%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
| Buellton | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.6 per 1,000 residents | 13.4 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Buellton2
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Buellton7.6
California18.2
U.S.15.5
52nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
81st
percentile among CA towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
38
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Buellton
19pages on Buellton
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 70% of CA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyB−2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than CA on 12 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$901K typical home · up 3.3% in a yearWork & commuteA−$100K median household income · 3,357 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 86% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Buellton; the nearest are
University of California-Santa BarbaraUniversity or college · Public · Santa Barbara24.1 mi$16,414 in-state tuitionAllan Hancock CollegeCommunity college · Public · Santa Maria26.1 mi$1,156 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Buellton residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Buellton
City in California, United States
Buellton is a small city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Solvang. The population was 5,161 at the 2020 census, up from 4,828 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 101 and State Route 246, Buellton attracts travelers to hotels, restaurants, parks and shops. It may be most famous for its nickname “Home of Split Pea Soup,” which is a reference to the former Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant that shut down in 2024. Buellton traces its beginnings to 1867 when a portion of a Mexican land grant was deeded to Rufus T. Buell and his brother. They developed a successful cattle ranch in the 19th centu…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1992
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 358 ft
- ZIP code
- 93427
- Area code
- 805
Questions about Buellton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Buellton, CA a good place to live?
Buellton grades B− overall, better than 54% of U.S. towns and #172 of 841 in California. It grades A for health, B− for safety and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Buellton, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.