Even at the median rent, available units are scarce.

2BR rent percentiles

Percentile ACS base rent Indexed 2026 rent
10th $1,397 $1,693
20th $1,888 $2,288
30th $2,285 $2,769
40th $2,503 $3,033
50th $2,776 $3,364
60th $3,012 $3,650

ACS 2020-2024 5-year PUMS rent percentiles are updated to 2026 year-to-date using Zillow's Observed Rent Index for Santa Barbara ZIP 93101 as the local rent-growth proxy.

About 4%
199

ACS estimates 199 vacant for-rent units in Goleta. If roughly half of those units are at or below the median rent, then only about 100 units are available at or below the median price point at a given time. Units fill fast, which leaves households with limited options in any given month when they need to move.