Santa barbara : California

What Santa Barbara is like for active adults

One of the nation’s top tourist and retirement communities is Santa Barbara, California. Located about 85 miles north of Los Angeles, this charming mission city on the Pacific has done a superb job of preserving its heritage and creating a livable, modern city. The graceful adobe architecture of the Spanish Mission style is everywhere - from the historic Mission Santa Barbara to the original Motel 6 here in town. The Santa Ynez Mountains rise up 4000’ to the east and provide a stunning backdrop.

The downtown offers wonderful high-end shopping. No billboards are permitted in town, and other signs are required to be small. Santa Barbara has an active cultural life with many museums and colleges (UC Santa Barbara and others). There are more than 15 notable parks, some of them quite large. The city’s population is 86,000. The greater metropolitan area has a population of about 200,000 and includes the cities of Goleta and Carpinteria and the communities of Montecito, Summerland, Isla Vista, and Hope Ranch.

Retirees will like living here because it has an unusually beautiful setting and a superb climate. There is a vital and prosperous downtown. Its strong economic base offers ample opportunities for work – paid or volunteer. You can choose to live in a house or apartment near downtown, or you can choose an apartment or free-standing house farther out in a development. There are also many assisted living and continuing care facilities.

Average home prices are exceptionally high, reflecting its premier coastal California environment. In 2009 the median home in Santa Barbara was worth $824,000 according to Zillow.com and over $1 million by City-Data.com. Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara County. Here is information on retirement in California
Photo of Santa Barbara street scene courtesy of Wikipedia and David Liu.

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What is special about this retirement community

• One of the top rated communities for retirement • Unusual physical beauty and ambience • Plenty of employment possibilities Downtown beaches • Great climate • Historic and lively historic downtown District • Santa Barbara Mission • Parks galore • Presidio of Santa Barbara • The Fiesta

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What is not special about this retirement community

Living here is very expensive

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What kinds of people like retiring here

Santa Barbara attracts an affluent community of who would like to live in an unusually beautiful town that has a major university, history, the California coast, and a strong economy.

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Local economy is driven by

Education, tourism, retail, construction

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Climate and Physical Environment

Santa Barbara is located on the Pacific in southern California, about 85 miles north of Los Angeles. Rolling hills give way to the Santa Ynes Mountains to the east. There are great beaches downtown. A large earthquake in 1925 caused significant damage.

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Cultural environment

• Santa Barbara Museum of Art • University Art Museum on the UC Santa Barbara Campus • The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History • The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum • Contemporary Arts Forum • Santa Barbara Film Festival • The Fiesta • Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Festival • Arlington Theatre (2000 seats) • Lobero Theatre • Many musical groups and a symphony orchestra

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Medical facilities

There are a number of hospitals in Santa Barbara

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Transportation

Santa Barbara Airport. Amtrak has service from Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) provides local bus service

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Facts about SANTA BARBARA

State: CA
Environment: College Town,Coastal,
City Population: 50,001-100,000
Median age of Population: 25-44
Avg Jan Temperature: 41-60
Median HH Income: 60,001-80,000
Average Home Price (MLS): $500,001+
Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house: Less than 2000
Total Crime Index: 81-90 (low)
Cost of Living Index: 121+ (very high)
Culture Index: 121+ (very high)
State Sales Tax: Yes
State Income Tax: Yes
Name of the Guide: Jfb48

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