Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area's all-transactions index changed +2.3% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +0.9% for California and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 268th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +2.3%
- 5-year change
- +43.7%
- Since Q1 1995
- +405%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 268th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA vs California and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: 505.2
- California: 488.5
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | CA | U.S. | Gap vs CA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +2.3% | +0.9% | +3.0% | +1.4 pts | −0.7 pts |
| 3 years | +14.5% | +7.7% | +12.9% | +6.8 pts | +1.6 pts |
| 5 years | +43.7% | +28.1% | +41.3% | +15.6 pts | +2.4 pts |
| 10 years | +84.0% | +76.2% | +93.3% | +7.9 pts | −9.3 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +405% | +388% | +292% | +16.7 pts | +113.7 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 931 · Santa Barbara, CA area | CA | -17.7% | +18.8% | +346% | 100% |
| 934 · Santa Maria, CA area | CA | +3.7% | +38.5% | +401% | 45% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area's index peaked in Q4 2005, fell 45.2% to its low in Q2 2012, and regained its peak in Q3 2021, about 15.8 years after the top. Today it sits +43.5% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q4 2005 | Q2 2012 | -45.2% | Q3 2021 (15.8 yrs) | +43.5% |
| CA | Q3 2006 | Q1 2012 | -41.0% | Q2 2019 (12.8 yrs) | +50.9% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area's index has changed +128% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | CA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -1.5% | -2.9% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | +4.2% | -1.9% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | +15.8% | +3.3% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +32.3% | +26.7% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +128% | +121% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +398% | $1,493,291 |
| Q2 2000 | +257% | $1,072,447 |
| Q2 2005 | +52.8% | $458,411 |
| Q2 2010 | +135% | $705,596 |
| Q2 2015 | +95.9% | $587,773 |
| Q2 2020 | +60.9% | $482,642 |
| Q2 2021 | +43.7% | $431,022 |
| Q2 2023 | +14.5% | $343,367 |
| Q2 2025 | +2.3% | $306,888 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area shows changes of +2.3% over one year, +43.7% over five years, and +84.0% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +405% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −0.7 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is +2.4 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.