At a Glance
Median Income
$111,427
$54,688 per capita
Home Value
$1,180,100
Zillow: $1,313,461
Median Rent
$2,302/mo
32.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
596/100K
4,493/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
57.7%
95.1% high school+
Unemployment
3.9%
5.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
26.7%
10.5% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
59°F
317 sunny days/yr
How Santa Cruz Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Santa Cruz's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Santa Cruz a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 — Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Santa Cruz residents earn a median household income of $111,427 , which is 48% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $54,688. The unemployment rate stands at 3.9% (8% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 10,171 business establishments, including 734 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Santa Cruz is $1,180,100 , 319% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $1,313,461. Median rent is $2,302/month, with 32.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1970.
Safety & Crime
Santa Cruz reports 596 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 57% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 4,493/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
57.7% of adults in Santa Cruz hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(71% above the national average).
95.1% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Santa Cruz has an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C).
Winters average 52°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 317 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 30.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 39.
Data Overview
People
Population60,953
Median Age30.7 yrs
Density4,784/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans2.5%
Economy
A+
Median Income$111,427
Per Capita$54,688
Unemployment3.9%
Poverty5.5%
County GDP$21,092M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,300
Housing
F
Home Value$1,180,100
Rent$2,302
Ownership47.7%
Zillow$1,313,461
Housing Units23,749
Rent Burden32.6%
Crime
F
Violent596/100K
Property4,493/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault417/100K
Burglary533/100K
Health
Obesity26.7%
Diabetes8.7%
Smoking10.5%
Heart Disease5.0%
Premature Death5,482/100K
Climate
Avg Temp59°F
Sunny Days317/yr
Rain30.6 in/yr
AQI39 (Good)
Elevation89 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+57.7%
High School+95.1%
Graduate+28.3%
School Score4.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 21% / D 75%
Commute23 min
Broadband94.7%
Internet Speed95 Mbps
EV Stations50
Libraries16
Did You Know?
Santa Cruz was founded in 1791.
The median home in Santa Cruz was built in 1970.
19.3% work from home.
The nearest airport is Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (27 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.482 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
10.6% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
There are 734 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 25 fatal vehicle crashes.
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