Live Oak, CA, USA, 2014
Live Oak’s story
Live Oak in pictures
Census counts: 3,518 in 1960, 17,038 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 6 maps from 1912 on.
Explore the history →Live OakSanta Cruz County, CA
This town in California has a population of 16,911.
Population
16,911
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$1.02M
Census ACS
Household income
$104K
median
Median age
41.8
years
Jobs based here
7,599
Balanced
TownGrade
B−
#211 of 841 in CA
What should you know before moving to Live Oak?
Strong in places, weak in others. Cost of living is its weak spot: the typical home is worth about $1.0 million, 9.1 years of the Santa Cruz metro’s $111K median household income. Overall, Live Oak earns a B−, better than 49% of U.S. towns. That places it 211th of 841 in California. Walkability is its strong suit: it is more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns. It is strong on health as well (B+) — it is healthier than 73% of U.S. towns. Hazard risk is weaker too (D): FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 84% of U.S. communities, with earthquakes at the top. Its typical July afternoon high is 70°F, below both California’s towns (89°F) and U.S. towns (85°F).
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · FEMA National Risk Index · NOAA normals, 1991–2020.
What makes Live Oak stand out
Where Live Oak beats most towns.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
9.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Live Oak Elementary schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Live Oak Elementary | K–5 | 362 |
| Green Acres Elementary | K–5 | 262 |
| Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary | K–5 | 214 |
SchoolsB+
On state tests
NCES · EDFacts.
How Live Oak grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Live Oak is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 96% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 2%), so the B− overall blends very different results.
Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesD−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 12.5 of 20; 5.5% of households have no carA+Open →Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listDOpen →HealthDominican Hospital 0.3 miles awayB+Open →SchoolsBetter than most of the towns comparedB+Open →Jobs & income$104K median household incomeBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB+Open →HistoryGraded on historic places and the town’s ageC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 72° summer afternoons–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 41.8; 41% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 147 attractions →Levi's Stadium and 80 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Live Oak. Close and well known come first.
Big draw29 mi Stadium & arenaLevi's Stadium
Big draw28 mi Theme parkCalifornia's Great America
3 mi Theme parkSanta Cruz Beach Boardwalk
24 mi Stadium & arenaSAP Center
26 mi Zoo & aquariumMonterey Bay Aquarium
27 mi MuseumMonterey Museum of ArtSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Levi's Stadium: Matthew Roth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · California's Great America: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Josta Photo, CC BY 2.0 · SAP Center: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Monterey Bay Aquarium: Meij.kobayashi, Public domain · Monterey Museum of Art: Sgerbic, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
Moving to Live Oak: who provides what
Live Oak is unincorporated, so Santa Cruz County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSanta Cruz Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesSanta Cruz CountySanta Cruz County provides services here
SchoolsSanta Cruz City High School District (9-12)Live Oak Elementary School DistrictSoquel Elementary School District3 districts serve Live Oak; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSanta Cruz County Clerk - ElectionsSanta Cruz County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP codes95062, 9506595062 75% · 95065 24%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Live Oak.
Live Oak has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, trades workers with Santa Cruz and other neighbors and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
OutdoorsB+
Protected land: 2.3% of Live Oak
In Live Oak, the trail network density is 1.1 miles per square mile. Trails total 3.6 miles in 10 parks and preserves.
#340for trails in CA
| Live Oak | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.1 miles per square mile | 1.0 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% |
2.3%
conserved · 48 of 2,066 acres
3.6 mi
of trails · 1.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jose Avenue Park | 0.4 mi | 6 |
| 2. Rodeo Creek Gulch | — | 15 |
| 3. Arana Gulch | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
Live Oak’s schools rank ahead of 71% of California districts
Two of its 8 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. The public schools here belong to the Live Oak Elementary school district. 5 public schools serve Live Oak, with 1,080 students in all.
71%of CA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 362 | – |
| Tierra Pacifica CharterTop results in townGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 166 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Natural hazards: very high risk in Live Oak, mostly earthquakes
Paid flood insurance claims in Live Oak since 1982: 3. Expected losses in Live Oak break down as 74% from earthquakes and 24% from inland flooding.
84risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
3
paid flood claims since 1982
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HealthB+
Live Oak earns a B+ for health
Against the 8,021 U.S. towns with household incomes like Live Oak’s, it is healthier than 57%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
Among adults in Live Oak, 21% get no exercise outside work. The town beats the California average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. Two figures for adults here: 32% sleep under 7 hours, 72% had a checkup this year.
73%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Live Oak | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 29% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 35% | 36% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 72% | 79% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 24% | 25% |
32 measures vs. California
7 better22 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Live Oak | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.5% | 17.9% |
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8.2% | 10.6% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.7% | 6.4% |
Dominican Hospital
0.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
62nd
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers: that is Live Oak’s year
The Santa Cruz weather station records that the frost-free season runs about 323 days, longer than in 96% of U.S. towns. January nights average 42.5°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 70°.
For Live Oak, the January low is 43°F. Snow is almost unheard of.
72°summer high
| Live Oak | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 70°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 43°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter43–60°
Spring47–65°
Summer54–70°
Fall50–69°
Dec 13
typical first frost
Jan 29
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
72°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in nine working residents works right in Live Oak
Live Oak has about as many jobs (7,599) as working residents, but only 701 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 21.9 minutes, against 28.7 across California.
Employers in Live Oak added 372 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 7,599. Most people who work leave Live Oak to do it: just 11% work in town. The town’s average commute comes in at 22 minutes. The top destinations are Santa Cruz (21%), San Jose (6%) and Capitola (5%).
11%work in town
| Live Oak | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $104,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 16% | 14% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Live Oak11%
Santa Cruz21%
San Jose6%
Capitola5%
Scotts Valley4%
6 mi
median commute distance
7,599
jobs based in Live Oak
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 96% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Fewer children than California overall
16% of residents are under 18 in Live Oak. Children under 18 are 16% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 20% of residents (16% statewide). California has 37% of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more; here it is 41%.
41.8median age · CA 37.9
| Live Oak | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 16% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 41% | 29% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 16% | 18% |
| Median age | 41.8 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
Live OakCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school17%
Some college22%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s26%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.2 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 71% are women (CA 58%).
| Live Oak | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.1% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 11.8% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.5% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.6% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.5% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.4% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11.2% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 17.4% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.1% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.5% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.1% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.7% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Live Oak
17pages on Live Oak
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Live Oak
Five Branches UniversityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Santa Cruz1.8 miCabrillo CollegeCommunity college · Public · Aptos3.1 mi$1,270 in-state tuitionUniversity of California-Santa CruzUniversity or college · Public · Santa Cruz4.4 mi$16,005 in-state tuition
About 11 of every 100 Live Oak residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Live Oak
Census-designated place in California, United States
Live Oak is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Capitola and north of the former Union Pacific railroad. Live Oak sits at an elevation of 102 feet (31 m). The population was 17,038 at the 2020 census. The population of the greater Live Oak area, including Twin Lakes and Pleasure Point, was 27,921.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 102 ft
Live Oak’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Live Oak.
Santa CruzCapitolaSoquelTwin LakesLive Oak
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | #211 | B− | D− | — | B+ | B+ |
| Santa Cruz | #291 | C+ | D− | D | A− | A− |
| Capitola | #305 | C+ | D | C− | A− | A− |
| Soquel | #161 | B | D− | — | A− | A |
| Twin Lakes | #206 | B− | D− | — | B+ | A− |
Live Oak, Soquel and Twin Lakes report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Live Oak with a neighbor →
Questions about Live Oak
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Live Oak, CA a good place to live?
Live Oak grades B− overall, better than 49% of U.S. towns and #211 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health and B+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Live Oak, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.