Half of all renters in Santa Barbara County are rent-burdened, and another 25% are severely rent-burdened, according to an updated housing data dashboard by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments.
Homeowners, by contrast, have it a little easier financially. About 28% are considered cost-burdened, while only 12.7% are considered severely cost-burdened, according to the dashboard.
Cost-burdened is when a person spends more than 30% of their income on housing, and severely cost-burdened is when a person spends more than 50% of their income…