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EconPulse

Local economy signal dashboard

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PLACEStable

Vandenberg Afb, CA

Stable overall. Federal Funds is the clearest support signal, while population needs the most attention. Housing reads as strained for a median-income household.

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Overall score61out of 100
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89
65
22
45
96

Population

3,477

Data freshness

Unknown

GDP / Output

+7.2% YoY

89

$41.4B

Output changed +7.2% in 2024.

Vintage date unknown

State growth5.8%
U.S. growth5.3%

Jobs

Unemployment rate

65

4.1%

Unemployment is 4.1% for April 2026.

Vintage date unknown

State avg5.3%
U.S. avg5.2%

Population

-4.6% 5-year

22

3,477

Population moved -4.6% over the latest ACS window.

Vintage date unknown

State population39,287,377
U.S. population334,922,499

Housing

Rent share of income

45

39.2%

Median rent consumes 39.2% of median household income: Strained.

Vintage date unknown

State rent$2.0K
U.S. rent$1.4K
HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

Federal Funds

$7.6K per resident

96

$3.4B

$3.4B in federal obligations flowed here in FY2025.

Vintage date unknown

State total$485.6B
U.S. total$5.3T

Population and output

Trend Snapshot

Reported share

Industry Breakdown

FY2025

Federal Money

Federal obligations

$3.4B

$7.6K per resident in reported federal flow.

Top agencies

Dollars
1. Social Security Administration$1.9B
2. Department of Defense$592.9M
3. Department of Veterans Affairs$193.3M

Top recipients

Dollars
1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA$172.5M
2. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CALIFORNIA$126.8M
3. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA$93.7M

Strained

Housing Affordability

39.2%

of median income

1BR estimate$2,253
2BR estimate$2,967
Median income$84,167
Median home valueUnavailable

ACS context

Quick Facts

Population

3,477

Median age

25.1

Bachelor's degree+

48.0%

Poverty rate

1.4%

Labor force participation

76.9%

Prime rate

6.8%

CPI YoY

+3.9%

U.S. GDP YoY

+5.9%

Sources and warnings

Data Provenance

Census ACS 5-year

2024

BLS LAUS / CPS

April 2026

BEA regional CAGDP1

2024

USAspending

FY2025

FRED

2026-06-16

HUD Fair Market Rent

Latest available

Data notes
  • HUD_API_TOKEN missing; ACS median gross rent is used as the housing affordability fallback.

5-year compound growth

Historical Trends

Population CAGR

-0.9%

GDP CAGR

+5.9%

Federal flow

5 years

Population (5 years)
20203,646
20213,638
20223,681
20233,688
20243,477
GDP (5 years)
2020$31.1B
2021$34.7B
2022$36.9B
2023$38.6B
2024$41.4B

2-year linear forecast

Predictive Outlook

Population forecast

20243,477
20253,540 *
20263,511 *

R² = 28.0% · * projected

GDP forecast

2024$41.4B
2025$43.9B *
2026$46.4B *

R² = 98.6% · * projected

Linear regression over available historical data. Projections are estimates based on past trends and do not account for policy changes, economic shocks, or other external factors.

housing affordability breakdown

Cost of Living

Median household income$84,167/yr
Median rent$2,747/mo
Rent share of income39.2%

Rent data from Census ACS 5-year. Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 6.5% APR, 30-year fixed.

employment snapshot

Job Market

Unemployment rate4.1%
State avg5.3%
U.S. avg5.2%
Labor force participation76.9%
Poverty rate1.4%

Data from BLS LAUS / CPS. April 2026.

valuation snapshot

Real Estate

Median monthly rent$2,747

composite score

Investment Climate

Investment climateModerate
Composite score63/100
Economic growth89/100
Labor market65/100
Population momentum22/100
Overall stability61/100

Composite score weighs economic growth, labor market health, population momentum, and overall stability. Not financial advice.

Location Context

Vandenberg AFB CDP, California

City/Town

Part of

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA

Nearby locations

Vandenberg Village, CAMission Hills, CALompoc, CACasmalia, CAOrcutt, CA