349 movers in Santa Barbara
United Transportation Moving & Storage
Jeremy said: I would use them again without hesitation. The crew showed up ready and got straight to work. They handled the loading and unloading without making it chaotic. Nothing felt rushed, but they also didn't waste time. The team worked well together and kept things moving the whole day. The whole process was under control. Read more at: https://moveadvisor.com/movers/united-transportation-moving-and-storage-2154
Win Van Lines
"They gave us a very good price for our move from west to east coast and said that this price will not increase although we have asked it many times. We said okay and gave them an appointment around 10am. They came at 6pm, the next morning we were ..."
Door 2 Door Moving & Storage
"Summary: Not worth the hassle of your belongings being shipped to the farthest place away from your intended destination and living without your belongings for 1 month. Customer service representatives have no capability of helping you. They use a..."
Golden Valley Van Lines
"1) Dave - was rude, was a snake oil sales man, seemed to disappear as soon as the "deposit" was made, seemed to faked illness as part of the scam. NOTE: For interstate moves, any good company is not supposed to take a deposit. They can ask for loc..."
New Life Van Lines
"Do not use this service, it´s awful. The company never responded for furniture and property damages. They also overcharged for the service and so on. I can be on and on about this company. Don´t be silly, protect your money and pay a bit more for..."
Presto Logistics
"We moved from SoCal to Oregon in July, the hottest weekend of the month. When we first called for a quote we were treated with respect. We did use a video chat to go over what we wanted moved and then received our quote. We did go over the box lim..."
AIR 1 Moving and Storage
"U recently hired Air 1 Moving & Storage for my move from Phoenix, Arizona to Agoura Hills, California and I'm 100% satisfied with their quality f work, communication and price. Overall it was excellent experience and I would definitely hire Air 1 ..."
All Services Movers
"Is anyone using these guys ? Dont even try using them. Hidden fees and hostage taking of your goods. Promised free storage that never was. Arrogant. Manager who threatens to auction your goods. Look for another company to move and not these guys..."
United Transportation Moving & Storage
"I hired them for a studio move and didn’t want to deal with carrying things myself. The crew of United Transportation Moving & Storage showed up, did a quick walkthrough, and got started. Items were wrapped before being taken out, and floors were ..."
Sannah Van Lines Inc
"DO NOT hire this company, their initial quote is always too low and will be raised. Your delivery will be late and your property will be damaged. After all this we had to take them to arbitration. We got the arbitration award and now they won't pa..."
Skinny Wimp Moving
"I hired them to move a bedroom set consisting of the dresser with mirror, 2 night stands, a bed with headboard and footboard and a chest of drawers. $330. That's not a small amount of money for a relatively small job but get it...small job, same s..."
Conejo Valley Moving and Storage
"Run don't walk away from this company. VERY unprofessional, incompetent, unreliable and undependable. It was made very clear to the quoting agent and this moving company on multiple occasions that my husband is disabled and would not be able to wa..."
B&B Transportation
"Office will quote you a price and his name is PETER!! When movers show up they will load your stuff and change the price after it’s been loaded. The movers will break stuff and not mention anything. Calling the office and having them answer is imp..."
Ally Relocation
"They showed up 6 hours late with out calling to alert me of their delay and never answered their phones to give me an eta. I couldn't leave a voice mail because the box was full. once they finally showed up they " forgot" the forms to mark all my ..."
Prodigy Moving and Storage
"They lost half my wife’s closet on a three mile drive and we’re also extremely unprofessional in trying to get out of the unpacking we paid for. It was only a three mile drive yet when they unpacked everything my wife was missing tons of clothes a..."
Apple Van Lines
"I wanted to trust this company because the commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4OEbJGKnCg) made it seem as though there is no broker, and the van would be an Apple Van that picks up from A and delivers to B. Not the case. They are a broke..."
Hollywood Moving and Storage
"I would definitely avoid them. Great to work with before they have your money but afterwards is when the nightmare starts. Started off by changing my moving date by several days which wouldn’t be a big deal except that I was flying back on specifi..."
Raptor Van Lines
"Title: Raptor Vanlines - A Dishonest and Manipulative Nightmare My experience with Raptor Vanlines has been nothing short of a nightmare, and I feel compelled to share my story to warn others. If I could give zero stars, I would. Liz, the person..."
LS Investment Group Inc
"This company held my belongings hostage and was demanding 100% more than the estimate. I contacted FMCSA and filed a report. They forced this company to deliver my belongings. They delivered a week late and dumped my belongings on my front yard. I..."
United Moving Spaces
"[NAME EDIT] promised no extra costs. I ended up paying an extra $1000 hiden items. And my sofa was damaged. Their insurance said they cover $43. STAY AWAY *UPDATED POST VENDOR RESPONSE: Inaccurate/FALSE response from company. There was nothing ..."
Energy Moving LLC
"PLEASE BELIEVE THE REVIEWS BEFORE YOU REGRET!!! I had a terrible experience with this household mover company. Navistar Van Lines hired Energy Moving Systems for the pick-up and storage, and R&M Transportation for the delivery. I contracted for a..."
KLM Vanlines
"I'm surprised to see them operating. I filed a claim with the DOT against them for charging me twice my binding quote after having left with my belongings. Boxes crushed, some missing. The DOT told me after the investigation that they had lost the..."
What to know when moving to Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara at a Glance
- The Vibe:
- A highly educated area where 41.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree and 78.2% are renters.
- The Major Draw:
- Median household income is $79,868, providing a comfortable living standard.
- The Reality Check:
- The median gross rent is $2,109, which is relatively high.
- Commute:
- Only 3.2% of residents use public transit.
- Top Tip:
- Prepare for 33.5 inches of rain annually, with the wettest months in winter.
The 'Vibe' Check: Who Thrives Here?
Santa Barbara has a population of 30,496, characterized by a significant renter presence at 78.2%. While the median household income is a solid $79,868, nearly 17.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area has a relatively high education level, with 41.1% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher. The climate brings about 33.5 inches of precipitation a year, with most rain falling during the winter.
Probably not your spot if you are looking for affordable housing, as the median gross rent stands at $2,109.
Your Money: Housing & Cost Snapshot
- Median gross rent is $2,109, which can strain a budget, especially for renters.
- Median home value is $1,122,200, indicating a high cost of homeownership.
- 41.1% of residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, reflecting a well-educated community.
- The poverty rate is 17.1%, suggesting economic challenges for some residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Data Profiles.
Crime & Safety: What the Numbers Say
Crime data for California indicates a mixed picture; while property crime has decreased by 26.1% from 2022 to 2025, the state annual rate for property crime in 2025 stands at 1,764 per 100,000 people, which is 14% higher than the national average. Violent crime has also dropped by 17.4% in the same period, with a rate of 415.5 per 100,000, 27.7% higher than the national rate.
- Violent crime: 415.5 per 100k vs. national 325.3 per 100k.
- Property crime: 1,764 per 100k vs. national 1,546.9 per 100k.
- Notable trend: Homicide rate down 44.9% since 2022.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (state-level summarized data for California).
Schools & Higher Ed
Santa Barbara has access to several higher education institutions, contributing to its educated population.
- Total postsecondary institutions: 7
- With College Scorecard data: 7
- Local options include University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, and Westmont College.
Source: NCES Postsecondary School Locations, U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Weather & Getting Outside
Santa Barbara experiences an annual high of 81°F and an average low of 47°F, with 33.5 inches of rain spread throughout the year, particularly in winter. The area enjoys 333 days of sunshine, making it favorable for outdoor activities.
- Arroyo Burro Beach County Park: 4.7 stars (3,331 reviews)
- Shoreline Park: 4.8 stars (2,508 reviews)
- Goleta Beach Park: 4.5 stars (3,047 reviews)
Sources: NOAA Climate Data Online, Google Places.
Jobs & the Local Economy
Santa Barbara County has a labor force of 221,450, with an unemployment rate of 4.9% as of December 2025.
- Unemployment rate: 4.9%
- Employed: 210,704
- Labor force: 221,450
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.