Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Santa Cruz

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Mission Santa Cruz (8321945663)
California›Santa Cruz County
CompareFollow

Santa CruzCA

Trash & recycling
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0
Photo of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA · Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Source ↗

Population
61,797
2025 Census estimate · −3.8% since 2020
Typical home
$1.34M
+5.8% in a year
Household income
$115K
median
Median age
31.1
years
Jobs based here
27,094
Balanced
TownGrade
C+
#291 of 841 in CA

What should you know before moving to Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz's standout: it is among the most walkable places in the country. Overall it grades C+, ranked 291st of 841 in California. CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 83% of the country and its schools outperform 78% of the state's. Its weakest subject is cost of living: homes are expensive, about $1.3 million for a typical one and 12 times the Santa Cruz metro’s $111K median household income. History is its standout character grade: an A, better than 92% of U.S. towns, with 20 places on the National Register. Santa Cruz’s typical home value is $1,339,000, above both California’s towns ($709,000) and U.S. towns ($332,000). Its National Register listings include California Powder Works Bridge and Neary-Rodriguez Adobe. On the outdoors, just 42 of California’s 1,064 towns do better.

StrongestA+WalkabilityA+OutdoorsACivic lifeWeakestD−Cost of livingDHazard riskDSafety

What makes Santa Cruz stand out

Where Santa Cruz beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.

Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
HistoryA
Settled in 1791
A history going back 235 years.
14.3of 20 on EPA’s indexCar-dependentWalkable
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns
18.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
89Very high riskLowerHigher
Worth knowing · Natural hazardsD
Earthquakes and inland flooding at the top
FEMA National Risk Index.
Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk · National Register of Historic Places
Santa Cruz’s story

235 years in pictures

Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is one of 2 National Historic Landmarks here, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1791, comes before those of 98% of the California towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 950 in 1860, 62,956 in 2020. The archive holds 11 old photos and papers going back to 1850 and 4 maps from 1954 on.

20 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • 1791Santa Cruz is settled
Explore the history →

How Santa Cruz grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Santa Cruz is from typical.

How grading works

Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 2%), so the C+ overall blends very different results.

WalkabilityEPA walkability 14.3 of 20; 8% of households have no carA+Open →Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskearthquakes tops the listDOpen →SafetyDOpen →HealthDominican Hospital 3 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors21% conserved landA+Open →History48 notable people born hereAOpen →Civic life6.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsAOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 72° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market15 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 31.1; 58% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Nearby attractions

Levi's Stadium and 79 more within 40 miles

Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Santa Cruz. Close and well known come first.

All 161 attractions →
Big draw30 mi Stadium & arenaLevi's Stadiumin town Theme parkSanta Cruz Beach BoardwalkBig draw29 mi Theme parkCalifornia's Great America26 mi Stadium & arenaSAP Center26 mi Zoo & aquariumMonterey Bay Aquarium27 mi MuseumMonterey Museum of Art
Sources: 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 · Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Josta Photo, CC BY 2.0 · California's Great America: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · 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 Santa Cruz: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Santa Cruz, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSanta Cruz Water DepartmentNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpFrom the town’s siteTrash and recycling rulesTown site
SchoolsSanta Cruz City Elementary School DistrictSanta Cruz City High School District (6-12)2 districts serve Santa Cruz; 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.gov
Who runs elections hereSanta Cruz County Clerk - ElectionsSanta Cruz County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2025
ZIP codes95060, 95062, 95064, 9506595060 64% · 95062 19% · 95064 14% · 95065 4%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 Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz is shaped by its college students and has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of California.

OutdoorsA+

In Santa Cruz, trail density runs higher than in the typical California or U.S. town

Santa Cruz’s trail density is 4.8 miles per square mile. The biggest park or preserve is Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, at 1,914 acres. 76 miles of trail in 54 parks and preserves.

#20for trails in CA
20.6%
conserved · 2,081 of 10,084 acres
76 mi
of trails · 4.8 per sq mi
Biggest places to walkTrailsAcres
1. Pogonip Open Space Preserve14.7 mi601
2. DeLaveaga Park11.3 mi553
3. Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve4.6 mi308
Full pageSanta Cruz’s outdoors pageOpen the page
Trail map76 miles of trail, mappedPick a walk14.7 miles of trail · Pogonip Open Space PreserveConserved land20.6% conserved · 2,081 acres protectedQuestions“Where can I hike in Santa Cruz?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

SchoolsA−

For schools, Santa Cruz earns an A−

Its public schools are run by the Santa Cruz City High school district. Two of its 21 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

78%of CA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
SchoolLevelStudentsLetter
Mission Hill MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8Grades 6–8510–
Santa Cruz HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12Grades 9–121,093A+
Full pageSanta Cruz’s schools pageOpen the page
The districtsSanta Cruz City HighVs. the neighborsAhead of all 2 graded neighborsEvery school21 schools · De Laveaga ElementaryQuestions“Are Santa Cruz’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests

HousingCost of living grade D−

For cost of living, Santa Cruz earns a D−

At 12 years of the Santa Cruz metro’s $111K median household income, the typical home (about $1.34M) costs more against local pay than in 86% of California towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living.

The median rent in Santa Cruz is $2,452 a month. Typical home values rose 5.8% in the year to September 2026. 48% of households own their home in Santa Cruz.

$1.34MZillow home value
Santa CruzCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Median rent$2,452 a month$1,895 a month$1,185 a month
Households that own their home48%64%73%
Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent54%55%48%

Typical home value

Santa Cruz$1.34M
California$762K
Market temperature
Seller’s marketA seller's marketBuyer’sSeller’s
15
days on market
101.3%
sale-to-list price
+5.8%
value change, 1 year
24
homes sold in May
Full pageSanta Cruz’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page
Prices over the yearsUp 5.8% in a yearYears of income to buyA typical home costs 11.6 years of incomeRents$2,452 a month · Median rentVs. the neighborsBehind its 2 graded neighbors

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

10%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Cruz5.3
California4.4
U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Santa Cruz24.8
California18.2
U.S.15.5
10th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
13th
percentile among CA towns
332
violent crimes reported in 2025
1,549
property crimes reported in 2025
Full pageSanta Cruz’s safety reportOpen the page
Violent crime by type5.3 violent crimes per 1,000Crime over the yearsDown since 2023Vs. the neighbors4 bordering townsQuestions“Is Santa Cruz, CA safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D

Very high risk in Santa Cruz, with earthquakes at the top

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 110 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Santa Cruz.

89risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
89Very high riskLowerHigher
EarthquakesInland floodingTsunamis
110
paid flood claims since 1978
6
federal disasters paid out here
Full pageSanta Cruz’s hazards pageOpen the page
What it facesVery high riskFlood claims110 paid flood claims · Since 1978Past disasters6 federal disasters · Paid out in Santa CruzGet readyReady for earthquakes

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

HealthA−

For health, Santa Cruz earns an A−

Against the 6,393 U.S. towns with household incomes like Santa Cruz’s, it is healthier than 68%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.

69% of Santa Cruz adults had a checkup this year. Santa Cruz beats the California average on 17 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 25% of Santa Cruz adults have obesity.

83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
Santa CruzCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)69%72%79%
Obesity (CDC PLACES)25%29%35%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)26%31%35%
Diabetes (CDC PLACES)8%12%12%
32 measures vs. California
17 better11 too close to call4 worse
What stands outSanta CruzCA
Fewer adults with diabetes8%11.7%
Fewer uninsured adults7.3%10.6%
More binge drinkers18.8%15.3%
Dominican Hospital
3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
74th
percentile among CA towns
Full pageSanta Cruz’s health reportOpen the page
Everyday habitsFewer adults who get no exerciseHospitals & doctors nearby3 miles to an ER · Dominican HospitalHow adults are doingFewer adults in fair or poor healthEvery CDC estimateBetter than CA on 17 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

In Santa Cruz, expect mild winters and pleasant summers

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 70.3°.

Santa Cruz has warm winters and cool summers. Snow is almost unheard of.

72°summer high
Santa CruzCalifornia townsU.S. towns
July high70°F89°F85°F
January low43°F40°F22°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
Full pageSanta Cruz’s climate pageOpen the page
A year of weatherJuly highs 70°, January lows 43°Rain & snow28″ of rain a year · Snow is almost unheard ofHeating & coolingMostly a heating billThen and now+1.8° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+

A job hub: Santa Cruz has 1.3 jobs for every working resident and draws in 21,141 commuters

About one in 3 of Santa Cruz’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Santa Cruz grew to 27,094 in 2023, 2,147 more than in 2013. The top destinations are San Jose (7%), San Francisco (4%) and Live Oak (4%).

29%work in town
Santa CruzCalifornia townsU.S. towns
Working residents who work in town29%6.6%8%
Work from home22%14%11%
Below the poverty line17%10%9.6%
Median household income$115,000$95,000$80,000

Where working residents work

In Santa Cruz29%
San Jose7%
San Francisco4%
Live Oak4%
Scotts Valley3%
16 mi
median commute distance
27,094
jobs based in Santa Cruz
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns
Full pageSanta Cruz’s work & commute pageOpen the page
The jobs here27,094 jobs based here · BalancedWhere people work29% work in Santa CruzCommute times23 minutes · The average commuteHow far they goHalf commute less than 16 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Santa Cruz

20pages on Santa Cruz
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 78% of CA districts · 21 schoolsSafetyD5.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than CA on 17 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$1.34M typical home · up 5.8% in a yearWork & commuteB+$115K median household income · 27,094 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 89% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
OutdoorsA+76 mi of trails · 21% conserved landPlacesAttractions161 nearby · Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk under 1 miLibraryACentral Branch LibraryCollegesFive Branches University, in town
The story
HistoryASettled 1791 · 20 on the National RegisterFamous people48 born in Santa CruzTown Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 61 residentsClimate72° summer highs
Day to day
News3 recent stories about Santa CruzWeatherHandbookZIP code 95060, 95061, 95062Town SquareNeighbors
After high school

Colleges nearby

3 within 15 miles of the center of Santa Cruz

University of California-Santa CruzUniversity or college · Public · Santa CruzIn town$16,005 in-state tuitionFive Branches UniversityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Santa CruzIn townCabrillo CollegeCommunity college · Public · Aptos6.2 mi$1,270 in-state tuition

College town 30 of every 100 Santa Cruz residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Get outside

76 miles of trails in Santa Cruz

20.6% of the town is conserved land, across 54 parks and preserves.

Map of trails and conserved land in Santa CruzConservedTrails
1
Pogonip Open Space Preserve14.7 mi of trails · 601 acres
Directions
2
DeLaveaga Park11.3 mi of trails · 553 acres
Directions
3
Moore Creek Upland Open Space Preserve4.6 mi of trails · 308 acres
Directions
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US

Landmarks

20 places in Santa Cruz on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →
Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach BoardwalkNational Historic Landmark
California Powder Works BridgeBuilt 1872 · National Historic Landmark
Octagon Building
Golden Gate Villa

Famous people from Santa Cruz

48 notable people were born in Santa Cruz.

See all 48 →
Adam ScottAmerican actor · born 1973
Marisa MillerAmerican model · born 1978
Beverly GarlandAmerican actress · 1926–2008
Luke RockholdAmerican mixed martial artist · born 1984
Edmund McMillenAmerican video game designer · born 1980
Lynden GoochAmerican soccer player · born 1995

About Santa Cruz

City in California, United States

Santa Cruz (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌsanta ˈkɾus]; Spanish for 'Holy Cross') is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Santa Cruz County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture, and historic landmarks. Santa Cruz was founded by the Spanish in 1791, when Fermín de Lasuén established Mission Santa Cruz. Soon after, a settlement grew up near the mission called Branciforte, which came to be known across Alta California for its lawlessness. With the Mexican secularization of the Californian missions in 1833, the former mis…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established
1791
Area
16 sq mi
Elevation
36 ft
ZIP code
95060, 95061, 95062
Area code
831

Santa Cruz’s neighbors

4 towns share a border with Santa Cruz.

Explore the map →
Live OakParadise ParkPasatiempoTwin LakesLive OakParadise ParkPasatiempoTwin LakesSanta Cruz
Live Oak
E · 4% of Santa Cruz workers commute here
Visit
Paradise Park
N
Visit
Pasatiempo
N
Visit
Twin Lakes
E
Visit
How the neighbors grade
TownCA rankOverallCostSafetySchoolsHealth
Santa Cruz#291C+D−DA−A−
Live Oak#211B−D−—B+B+
Paradise Park——————
Pasatiempo——————
Twin Lakes#206B−D−—B+A−

Live Oak and Twin Lakes report no FBI crime data of their own. Paradise Park and Pasatiempo aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Santa Cruz with a neighbor →

Questions about Santa Cruz

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Santa Cruz, CA a good place to live?

Santa Cruz grades C+ overall, better than 39% of U.S. towns and #291 of 841 in California. It grades A− for health, D for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.

Is Santa Cruz, 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−.

What is Santa Cruz, CA known for?

48 notable people were born here, including Adam Scott and Marisa Miller.