Isla Vista, CA Demographics

A map of Isla Vista's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	7,584	6,513	54.5%	42.0%
Hispanic	2,834	4,239	20.4%	27.3%
Asian	2,173	3,210	15.6%	20.7%
Black	645	316	4.6%	2.0%
Multiracial	607	1,059	4.4%	6.8%
Native American/Other	77	163	0.6%	1.1%

Isla Vista, California has an estimated population of 13,920, a large decrease from the 15,500 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 54.5% White, 20.4% Hispanic, 15.6% Asian, 4.6% Black, 4.4% Multiracial, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Isla Vista, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Isla Vista has become considerably 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 Isla Vista, that probability was 70.1% in 2020 and 63.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Isla Vista is ranked the 418th 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). Isla Vista was ranked the 399th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Isla Vista's White Population

7,584 residents of Isla Vista, or 54.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Isla Vista is significantly higher than in California overall, where 33.8% of the population is White. Isla Vista ranks 1043rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Isla Vista's White population has grown by an estimated 16.4%. White residents' share of Isla Vista's population has increased from 42.0% to 54.5%.

Isla Vista is more White than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (45.6% White), Goleta (45.8% White), and Santa Barbara (52.8% White). Isla Vista is less White than neighboring Eastern Goleta Valley (63.1% White), and Mission Canyon (70.9% White).

Isla Vista's Black Population

645 residents of Isla Vista, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Isla Vista is comparable to the share in California overall, where 5.2% of the population is Black. Isla Vista ranks 432nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Isla Vista's Black population has grown by an estimated 104.1%. Black residents' share of Isla Vista's population has increased from 2.0% to 4.6%.

Isla Vista is more Black than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (1.7% Black), Goleta (1.6% Black), Eastern Goleta Valley (1.4% Black), Santa Barbara (1.4% Black), and Mission Canyon (2.5% Black).

Isla Vista's Asian Population

2,173 residents of Isla Vista, or 15.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Isla Vista is comparable to the share in California overall, where 15.3% of the population is Asian. Isla Vista ranks 124th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Isla Vista's Asian population has declined by an estimated 32.3%. Asian residents' share of Isla Vista's population has decreased from 20.7% to 15.6%.

Isla Vista is more Asian than neighboring Goleta (10.9% Asian), Eastern Goleta Valley (4.8% Asian), Santa Barbara (3.5% Asian), and Mission Canyon (1.6% Asian). Isla Vista is less Asian than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (29.1% Asian).

Isla Vista's Hispanic Population

2,834 residents of Isla Vista, or 20.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Isla Vista is significantly lower than in California overall, where 40.2% of the population is Hispanic. Isla Vista ranks 709th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Isla Vista's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 33.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Isla Vista's population has decreased from 27.3% to 20.4%.

Isla Vista is more Hispanic than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (17.3% Hispanic), and Mission Canyon (14.6% Hispanic). Isla Vista is less Hispanic than neighboring Goleta (36.7% Hispanic), Eastern Goleta Valley (26% Hispanic), and Santa Barbara (36.4% Hispanic).

Isla Vista's Native American/Other Population

77 residents of Isla Vista, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Isla Vista is comparable to the share in California overall, where 1.2% of the population is Native American/Other. Isla Vista ranks 964th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Isla Vista's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 52.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Isla Vista's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.6%.

Isla Vista is more Native American/Other than neighboring Goleta (0.5% Native American/Other), Eastern Goleta Valley (0.3% Native American/Other), and Mission Canyon (0% Native American/Other). Isla Vista is less Native American/Other than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (1.8% Native American/Other), and Santa Barbara (1.5% Native American/Other).

Isla Vista's Multiracial Population

607 residents of Isla Vista, or 4.4% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Isla Vista is comparable to the share in California overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Isla Vista ranks 302nd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,618 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Isla Vista's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 42.7%. Multiracial residents' share of Isla Vista's population has decreased from 6.8% to 4.4%.

Isla Vista is less Multiracial than neighboring University of California-Santa Barbara (4.5% Multiracial), Goleta (4.5% Multiracial), and 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.