All Countries
Santa Cruz, CA
Full City Profile · California · Santa Cruz County County
2.9
/5.0
C+
Fair
60,953
Population
4,784/sq mi density
$111,427
Median Income
$54,688 per capita
$1,180,100
Home Value
$1,313,461 Zillow
$2,302
Median Rent
32.6% income on rent
59°F
Avg Temperature
317 sunny days/yr
596
Violent Crime/100K
4,493 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.7 / 5.0
$111,427 median income, 3.9% unemployment
F
Affordability
1.0 / 5.0
$1,180,100 home value, $2,302/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
596 violent crimes/100K (57% above avg)
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
57.7% bachelor's degree or higher
Income Overview
Median Household Income
$111,427
48% above
US avg: $75,149
Per Capita Income
$54,688
40% above
US avg: $39,052
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
8% above
US avg: 3.6%
Poverty Rate
5.5%
56% below
US avg: 12.4%
Income Comparison: Santa Cruz vs. U.S. Average
Each bar shows Santa Cruz’s value as a percentage of the national average (100% line = U.S. avg)
Median Household
US: $75,149
$111,427
148%
Per Capita
US: $39,052
$54,688
140%
IRS Avg AGI
US: $72,000
$115,937
161%
Avg Weekly Wage
US: $1,432
$1,300
91%
Thin line = U.S. average (100%)
Employment & Commute
Avg Weekly Wage
$1,300
9% below US avg ($1,432)
Mean Commute Time
23 min
18% below US avg (28 min)
Work From Home
19.3%
27% above US avg (15.2%)
Drive Alone
53.0%
28% below US avg (73.2%)
Public Transit
4.8%
4% below US avg (5.0%)
County GDP
$21,092M
County-level GDP (BEA 2024)
How Residents Get to Work
Drive Alone
53%
Public Transit
4.8%
Work From Home
19.3%
Other
22.9%
Average commute time
23 minutes
US avg: 28 min
Business Landscape
Total Establishments
10,171
Restaurants
734
Healthcare
939
Retail
822
Manufacturing
281
Tax & Financial
IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income
$115,937
61% above US avg ($72,000)
Avg Property Tax
$9,787
180% above US avg ($3,500)
Cost of Living Index
110.7
Above national average (100 = US avg)
Complete Economy Data
Income & Wages
| Median Household Income | $111,427 |
| Per Capita Income | $54,688 |
| IRS Avg Adjusted Gross Income | $115,937 |
| Avg Weekly Wage | $1,300 |
| County GDP | $21,092M |
Hardship Indicators
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 5.5% |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.482 |
| Cost of Living Index | 110.7 |
Commute
| Mean Commute | 23 minutes |
| Drive Alone | 53.0% |
| Public Transit | 4.8% |
| Work From Home | 19.3% |
Businesses
| Total Establishments | 10,171 |
| Restaurants | 734 |
| Healthcare | 939 |
| Retail | 822 |
| Manufacturing | 281 |
Tax
| IRS Avg AGI | $115,937 |
| Avg Property Tax | $9,787 |