Rent burden means spending more than 30 percent of income on housing. When renters are rent-burdened, they have less money for food, healthcare, transportation, childcare, and emergencies. Across the Central Coast in 2021, more than half of renters in most communities were rent-burdened. Some communities saw rates exceeding 80 percent.

In Santa Barbara County, 82 percent of renter households in Isla Vista were rent-burdened, followed by 77 percent in Los Olivos, and 59 percent in Carpinteria and Santa Ynez. Communities in the city of Santa Barbara and north county cities including Guadalupe, Santa Maria, and Lompoc also had high rent burden rates. In Ventura County, 66 percent of renter households in Ojai were rent-burdened, 61 percent in Simi Valley, 57 percent in Oxnard, and between 55 and 56 percent in Moorpark, Ventura City, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme. In San Luis Obispo County, the cities of San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Arroyo Grande had the largest concentrations of rent-burdened households.

Rent burden this widespread reflects wages that have not kept pace with housing costs. When half to three-quarters of renters cannot afford housing at recommended levels, the problem is not individual financial management. It is a mismatch between what jobs pay and what housing costs.

Insights & Analyses: Central Coast

• Housing affordability affects all three counties, with most communities showing 50%+ of renters spending over 30% of income on housing.
• The crisis spans diverse community types, from college towns to agricultural centers to suburban areas.
• Coastal and inland communities alike are affected, suggesting regional rather than localized housing pressures.

Insights & Analyses: San Luis Obispo County

• In San Luis Obispo County, San Luis Obispo City, Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Arroyo Grande had the largest number of renter households who pay more than 30 percent of their income in rent.

Insights & Analyses: Santa Barbara County

• In Santa Barbara County, 82 percent of renter households in Isla Vista, 77 percent of renter households in Los Olivos, 59 percent of renter households in Carpinteria and Santa Ynez are rent burdened, paying more than 30 percent of their income in rent. Census-tract level data show that communities in the city of Santa Barbara as well as in the north county cities of Guadalupe, Santa Maria, and Lompoc also have high percentages of renter households that are rent burdened.

Insights & Analyses: Ventura County

• Many communities throughout Ventura County are facing high housing costs, 66 percent of renter households in Ojai, 61 percent of renter households in Simi Valley, 57 percent of renter households in Oxnard, 56 percent of Residents in Moorpark Ventura City, 55 percent in Camarillo, and Port Hueneme are rent burdened.
• Census-tract level data shows that communities in Simi Valley, Moorpark, Oxnard, and Ojai also had high percentages of renter households that are rent burdened.

Source: USC Equity Research Institute analysis of the 2021 5-year American Community Survey summary file from the U.S. Census Bureau and 2010 TIGER/Line Shapefiles (machine readable data files) / prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, 2023.  Universe includes renter-occupied households paying cash rent (excludes group quarters).