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About Eastern Goleta Valley, CA

About Eastern Goleta Valley, CA

Santa Barbara County area with ample biking and hiking spots

Eastern Goleta Valley is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County set between the sweeping foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains and the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The University of California, Santa Barbara is one of the area's major employers, and Ainsley Hughes, a Realtor for Keller Williams who knows the area well, says that’s a major reason people move here. “It’s a bit more slower paced,” she says. The area has a suburban feel, and folks maintain an active lifestyle by biking on one of the many paved paths like the scenic Obern Trail and hiking in Tucker’s Grover Park. “It’s quieter and not quite as dense as Santa Barbara,” Hughes says. Eastern Goleta Valley also has well-rated public schools and a range of housing.

Biking through the foothills and near the beach

The community has a handful of community parks, recreational spaces and multi-use trails close to San Marcos Foothills Preserve’s 300 acres and beaches on the Pacific coastline. Tucker’s Grove Park features a playground, athletic fields and connections to the 3-mile San Antonio Creek Trail, which travels through the prairie-flower-filled San Antonio Canyon Park. Birdwatchers and horseback riders frequent the massive More Mesa open space, which has stunning ocean vistas. Hughes says Goleta Beach Park is another spot where locals lounge and ride their bikes. “It’s a good little beach—a popular place for surf camp or lessons,” she says. Visitors can also walk their dogs or fish off the pier.

From midcentury condos to luxurious estates

The area has a combination of gridded suburbs with cul-de-sacs and more hidden communities with roads canopied by coastal live oaks. Narrow roads like San Marcos weave around hilly areas and cliffs in the north, and the narrow Via Huerto Road connects locals to the coast. The median price for a single-family home is about $2.3 million, roughly $300,000 less than neighboring Santa Barbara. Spanish-style condos and townhomes from the 1970s and ‘90s are spread throughout the community, typically ranging between $1 million and $2 million. Housing styles include midcentury ranch-style, Spanish-influenced modern traditional homes and small cottages spanning the 20th century. Neighborhoods like Hope Ranch have multi-million-dollar estates with luxury pools and one to two acres of land. Many are close to the ocean or La Cumbre Country Club.

Focus on tech and sports in Santa Barbara Unified School District

For elementary grades, the area is zoned for the Goleta Union School District, which earns an A-minus from Niche. The district offers a Summer Thrive program where students explore performing arts, journal outdoors and get help with math and reading. For higher grades, kids attend schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, which scores an A. Those on the west side may attend Dos Pueblos Senior High; the school features the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy, a 4-year-long program where students study Mechatronics and other disciplines. Residents on the east go to San Marcos Senior High, known for its athletic programs, including its San Marcos Royals Football Team, which will make district playoffs in 2024. Students may opt to continue their post-grad journeys at UCSB, which has over 200 majors and is recognized as a leading research university by the Association of American Universities. Santa Barbara City College is another option 7 miles west.

Bookstores, cafes and thrift shops near Eastern Goleta Valley

Hollister and Patterson Avenue house some local shopping spots in the area. Magnolia Shopping Center has a Ralph’s Grocery Store, the United Family Association Thrift and several other shops and restaurants. Calle Real Center is a few blocks outside the area with a Trader Joe’s and locally owned salons and small businesses. Locals can also head west to Goleta’s Old Town for some of the area’s oldest family-run businesses and eateries. Used bookstores, bakeries and Asian and Mexican markets sit side-by-side along the four-lane walkable avenue. Every Sunday, the Camino Real Marketplace hosts The Goleta Farmer’s Market 6 miles west of the community.

Listening and learning through UCSB’s Arts and Lectures events

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is an entertainment hub for the community. Hughes, an alum of the university, says residents regularly attend UC Santa Barbara Gauchos soccer and basketball games at Harder Stadium and The Thunderdome indoor event center. Arts and Lectures is a school-based organization that annually presents dance performances, concerts and talks from renowned authors and professors. In September, residents can also drive 6 miles west to Girsh Park in Goleta for the annual Goleta Lemon Festival. Visitors can watch a pie-eating contest, peruse a car show and check out vendor booths.

Hopping on Santa Barbara MTD buses

U.S. Route 101—or “the 101” as locals call it—runs through the middle of the area, and California State Route 154 bisects the 101 in the north. The community has bike lanes on roads like Hollister Avenue, Cathedral Oaks Road and Calle Real. The paved Obern Trail Bike Path makes a 21-mile loop around the coastline past Goleta Beach and UCSB’s campus. Santa Barbara MTD buses also make regular stops in the community and at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital on the west side. Santa Barbara Airport sits on the southwestern border.

Wildfires and flood risks near Atascadero Creek

While crime data for 2023 and 2024 isn’t readily available for Eastern Goleta Valley, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported an increase in violent crime and a decrease in property crime in unincorporated areas. The same trend happened in the city of Goleta. The northern part of the community is more at risk of wildfires because of the proximity to wooded areas in the San Marcos Foothill Preserve. The Santa Barbara Fire Department urges homeowners to create a more defensible space around their properties by building non-combustible fence material and installing dual-paned windows. Santa Barbara County Fire Station 13 is also near Hollister Avenue. Parts of Eastern Goleta Valley also have significant flooding risk, especially farther south, closer to the Atascadero Creek and Goleta Slough State Marine Conservation Area. The county says those close to flood-prone areas should keep sandbags and plywood on hand and a portable radio in case of power outages.

Hannah Baggenstoss
Written By
Hannah Baggenstoss
Pasha Chichagov
Video By
Pasha Chichagov

Eastern Goleta Valley Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$2,222,500
Median Sale Price
$1,942,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$2,300,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$908,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
143
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
$14
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$1,195

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes for Sale
29
Months of Supply
2.40

Average Home Value



Source: Public Records

Top Schools in Eastern Goleta Valley, CA

Source:

Best Public Elementary Schools

Vieja Valley Elementary School
#1 Vieja Valley Elementary School
A
Niche
9
GreatSchools
Foothill Elementary School
#2 Foothill Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Isla Vista Elementary School
#3 Isla Vista Elementary School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Mountain View Elementary School
#4 Mountain View Elementary School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Hope Elementary School
#5 Hope Elementary School
A
Niche
7
GreatSchools
Hollister Elementary School
#6 Hollister Elementary School
A
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Kellogg Elementary School
#7 Kellogg Elementary School
A
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Adams Elementary School
#8 Adams Elementary School
B+
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Monte Vista Elementary School
#9 Monte Vista Elementary School
7
GreatSchools

Best Public Middle Schools

La Colina Junior High School
#1 La Colina Junior High School
A
Niche
8
GreatSchools
Goleta Valley Junior High School
#2 Goleta Valley Junior High School
A
Niche
6
GreatSchools
La Cumbre Junior High School
#3 La Cumbre Junior High School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Santa Barbara Junior High School
#4 Santa Barbara Junior High School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
Santa Barbara County Special Education School
#5 Santa Barbara County Special Education School

Best Public High Schools

Dos Pueblos Senior High School
#1 Dos Pueblos Senior High School
A+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
San Marcos Senior High School
#2 San Marcos Senior High School
A
Niche
6
GreatSchools
Santa Barbara Senior High School
#3 Santa Barbara Senior High School
A-
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Santa Barbara County Special Education School
#4 Santa Barbara County Special Education School

Best Private Schools

Laguna Blanca School
#1 Laguna Blanca School
Saint Therese Classical Academy
#2 Saint Therese Classical Academy
Santa Barbara Adventist School
#3 Santa Barbara Adventist School

Agents Specializing in this Area

Agent Spotlight

Maurie McGuire
(805) 617-1644
Our approach is simple: We bring unique market knowledge and excellent negotiating skills to help you buy or sell luxury homes. With more than 20 years of experience, we work to get you the optimal price for any property you plan to sell or buy.

We have in-depth knowledge of Montecito, Santa Barbara, and the County and are known in the community for our professional yet friendly approach. We help clients feel comfortable and confident throughout the buying and selling process.

As Expert Luxury Advisors with Sotheby's International Realty, we leverage sophisticated real estate marketing tools and international connections that attract the most qualified luxury home buyers. We bring unique insights about the area and will show you why Montecito and Santa Barbara real estate is exceptional.

Meet the Team:
Maurie McGuire, DRE#: 01061042

With over two decades as a real estate professional representing discerning clients and exceptional properties in the Montecito and Santa Barbara area, Maurie has been previously recognized as one of Coldwell Banker’s top-tier agents nationwide at her former brokerage. She has intimate knowledge of the local area and is committed to making the buying and selling process streamlined for her clients.

Maurie is known for her strong work ethic and down-to-earth honesty, instilling confidence and trust in her clients. Born in Carmel, Maurie is a fifth-generation Californian and has the firm belief that the central coast of California is one of the most astounding, highly desirable places to live.

Scott Westlotorn, DRE#: 01875690

With over 30 years of marketing and sales experience, Scott is a creative negotiator who has worked at the executive level in international business, non-profits, and real estate sectors. From starting and successfully running an international seafood company to founding The First Tee Central Coast (TFTCC) non-profit (a chapter of The First Tee an initiative developed by the PGA Tour and United States Golf Association), Scott has represented countless transactions while also developing public relations programs, long-range strategic fundraising and facility planning.

While still active with TFTCC, Scott came full circle and joined Maurie in her thriving real estate business in 2008. With a keen understanding of and love for the Santa Barbara area and as a native Californian, Scott is known to go the extra mile to help clients achieve their goals. His passion for real estate comes from the joy his clients exp
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Top Neighborhoods in this City

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.