Goleta, CA Demographics

A map of Goleta's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	14,986	15,076	45.8%	46.1%
Hispanic	11,999	11,552	36.7%	35.3%
Asian	3,573	3,908	10.9%	12.0%
Multiracial	1,457	1,444	4.5%	4.4%
Black	521	474	1.6%	1.4%
Native American/Other	149	236	0.5%	0.7%

Goleta, California has an estimated population of 32,685, a less than 1% change from the 32,690 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 45.8% White, 36.7% Hispanic, 10.9% Asian, 4.5% Multiracial, 1.6% Black, and 0.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Goleta, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Goleta has become slightly less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than California overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Goleta, that probability was 64.6% in 2020 and 64.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Goleta is ranked the 252nd most populous place in California, out of 1,618 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Goleta was ranked the 251st most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Goleta's White Population

14,986 residents of Goleta, or 45.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Goleta is considerably higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Goleta ranks 994th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Goleta's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Goleta's population has remained roughly unchanged at 45.8%.

Goleta is more White than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (45.6% White). Goleta is less White than neighboring Isla Vista (54.5% White), Eastern Goleta Valley (63.1% White), Mission Canyon (70.9% White), and Santa Barbara (52.8% White).

Goleta's Black Population

521 residents of Goleta, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Goleta is slightly lower than in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Goleta ranks 566th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Goleta's Black population has grown by an estimated 9.9%. Black residents' share of Goleta's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.6%.

Goleta is more Black than neighboring Eastern Goleta Valley (1.4% Black), and Santa Barbara (1.4% Black). Goleta is less Black than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (1.7% Black), Isla Vista (4.6% Black), and Mission Canyon (2.5% Black).

Goleta's Asian Population

3,573 residents of Goleta, or 10.9% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Goleta is slightly lower than in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Goleta ranks 253rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Goleta's Asian population has declined by an estimated 8.6%. Asian residents' share of Goleta's population has decreased from 12.0% to 10.9%.

Goleta is more Asian than neighboring Eastern Goleta Valley (4.8% Asian), Mission Canyon (1.6% Asian), and Santa Barbara (3.5% Asian). Goleta is less Asian than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (29.1% Asian), and Isla Vista (15.6% Asian).

Goleta's Hispanic Population

11,999 residents of Goleta, or 36.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Goleta is slightly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Goleta ranks 554th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Goleta's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Goleta's population has increased from 35.3% to 36.7%.

Goleta is more Hispanic than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (17.3% Hispanic), Isla Vista (20.4% Hispanic), Eastern Goleta Valley (26% Hispanic), Mission Canyon (14.6% Hispanic), and Santa Barbara (36.4% Hispanic).

Goleta's Native American/Other Population

149 residents of Goleta, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Goleta is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Goleta ranks 1282nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Goleta's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 36.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Goleta's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Goleta is more Native American/Other than neighboring Eastern Goleta Valley (0.3% Native American/Other), and Mission Canyon (0% Native American/Other). Goleta is less Native American/Other than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (1.8% Native American/Other), Isla Vista (0.6% Native American/Other), and Santa Barbara (1.5% Native American/Other).

Goleta's Multiracial Population

1,457 residents of Goleta, or 4.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Goleta is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Goleta ranks 862nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Goleta's Multiracial population has remained roughly the same. Multiracial residents' share of Goleta's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.5%.

Goleta is more Multiracial than neighboring Isla Vista (4.4% Multiracial), Eastern Goleta Valley (4.4% Multiracial), and Santa Barbara (4.4% Multiracial). Goleta is less Multiracial than neighboring Mission Canyon (10.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.