Santa Barbara County Health Data

Santa Barbara County, California

CDC County Health Rankings

Health Score

72/100

Average

Life Expectancy

80.6 yr

Uninsured Rate

9.2%

Health Statistics

Life Expectancy

80.6 yr

State avg 78.5 yr

National avg 77.5 yr

Uninsured Rate

9.2%

State avg 7.2%

National avg 9%

Primary Care Providers

77

per 100K population

National avg 82

Mental Health Providers

669

per 100K population

National avg 350

Poor / Fair Health

16.7%

State avg 18.9%

National avg 19.6%

Healthcare Access

Primary Care Physicians

20.3

per 100K residentsCDC: 76.6 per 100K

Dentists

5.0

per 100K residents

Nurse Practitioners & PAs

11.0

per 100K residents

Provider counts from CMS NPPES (National Provider Identifier Registry). Data current as of 2026.

Chronic Disease & Behavioral Health

These prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES program (Population-Level Analysis and Community Estimates), which combines BRFSS survey data with statistical modeling to produce county-level rates. Estimates are age-adjusted to enable fair comparisons across counties with different age distributions. Use them to spot where Santa Barbara County differs most from state and national norms.

Most prevalent chronic conditions

MeasureSanta BarbaraState avgNational avgVs state
Obesity27.6%30.0%37.6%2.4 pts better than state
Diabetes10.3%10.3%11.2%near state average
High Blood Pressure29.4%29.3%33.5%near state average
Depression21.8%22.7%24.1%0.9 pts better than state

Health-risk behaviors

MeasureSanta BarbaraState avgNational avgVs state
Current Cigarette Smoking11.6%12.6%16.3%1.0 pts better than state
Binge Drinking17.6%17.6%17.8%near state average
Physical Inactivity24.2%24.1%27.0%near state average

Preventive-care uptake

MeasureSanta BarbaraState avgNational avgVs state
Annual Routine Checkup69.6%70.0%74.9%near state average
Dental Visit (past year)65.3%61.3%57.3%4.0 pts better than state
Mammography (women 50–74)69.8%74.3%73.3%4.5 pts worse than state

Daily-life impact

MeasureSanta BarbaraState avgNational avgVs state
Frequent Mental Distress17.5%18.3%18.6%0.8 pts better than state
Short Sleep Duration32.2%35.3%37.3%3.1 pts better than state

These rates are part of the CDC PLACES survey. Compare Santa Barbara County nationally on mammography (women 50–74).

Source: CDC PLACES, 2023 release · age-adjusted prevalence (%). Confidence intervals are available on individual rankings pages.

Data Story

Mental Health Provider Access High in Santa Barbara County

Health data brief for Santa Barbara County, California.

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorPublished Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor
Lead metric:Mental health access

Mental health provider availability in the county reaches 669 per 100,000 residents. This figure is significantly higher than the national median of 250 per 100,000 residents. Life expectancy in the county is 80.6 years, which is longer than the California state average of 78.5 years and the national average of 77 years. The uninsured rate is 9.2%, higher than the state level of 7.2% but lower than the national average of 10%. For health status reporting, 16.7% of residents describe their health as poor or fair, which aligns closely with the national figure of 17%. Primary care provider availability is 77 per 100,000 residents, slightly above the national median of 70. Explore state-level data.

Get Care in Santa Barbara County, California

Direct contact information for hospitals and community health resources serving this county. Hospital quality ratings come from CMS Care Compare — the federal program that measures hospital performance on safety, patient experience, and outcomes.

Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital

ER
5/5
(805) 967-3411
351 S Patterson Ave, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Other

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

ER
4/5
(805) 682-7111
400 West Pueblo, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Private

Marian Regional Medical Center

ER
3/5
(805) 739-3100
1400 E Church St, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Acute Care HospitalsVoluntary non-profit - Church

Sources: Hospital data: CMS Care Compare. Quality ratings: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Community health center directory: HRSA. Last reviewed 2026-05-14.

Information is for general guidance only and is not medical advice. Always call ahead to confirm services, hours, and insurance accepted. In a medical emergency, dial 911.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the health ranking of Santa Barbara County, CA?
Santa Barbara County has a health score of 72/100, rated "Average." It ranks #27 out of 58 counties in California (1 = healthiest). The score is based on CDC County Health Rankings data, combining life expectancy, uninsured rates, provider access, and behavioral health indicators.
What is the life expectancy in Santa Barbara County?
Life expectancy in Santa Barbara County is 80.6 years. The California state average is 78.5 years, making Santa Barbara County above the state average.
How does Santa Barbara County health compare to the California average?
Santa Barbara County's health score of 72/100 is above the California average of 67/100. Life expectancy is 80.6 years vs. the state average of 78.5 years. The uninsured rate is 9.2% vs. 7.2% statewide.
What health factors affect Santa Barbara County?
Key health factors for Santa Barbara County include: life expectancy (80.6 years), uninsured rate (9.2%), and primary care physician access (77:1 (population to primary care physicians)). Mental health provider access is 669:1 population-to-provider ratio. These metrics are sourced from the CDC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program.
Is Santa Barbara County a healthy place to live?
With a health score of 72/100 ("Average"), Santa Barbara County has average health outcomes compared to other counties in California. Residents have a life expectancy of 80.6 years. 9.2% of adults lack health insurance. Factors like healthcare access, environmental quality, and socioeconomic conditions all contribute to these outcomes.
Why is Santa Barbara County healthier than the California average?
Santa Barbara County's health score of 72/100 exceeds the California average of 67/100. Higher health scores often correlate with better access to healthcare providers, lower uninsured rates, higher median incomes, and environmental factors.

Counties with Similar Health Profile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Sources

Health data sourced from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Data is informational only. Not medical or health advice. Coverage varies by county and reporting year.