Population 97,999 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Santa Cruz
Household size in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.42 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.45 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Santa Cruz has 2.45 people, under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.42, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northwest and smallest in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.2 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.5 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.3 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.6 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.5 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Santa Cruz are younger than 38.6 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.2, mirroring the country.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 8.1% of households in Santa Cruz, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 2.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Santa Cruz
Renters in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.4% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 50.1% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.8% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 47.0% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Santa Cruz than nationally: 47.0% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Just over a third of owners (35.3%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northeast. The renter share has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.3% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Santa Cruz is close to the national rate: 9.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in California overall (7.3%).
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1970 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1971 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Santa Cruz is a place of older homes: half were built before 1971, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1966 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,390 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,536 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,886 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,418 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,028 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Santa Cruz costs $2,418 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,028 a month since 2006–10, up 74%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.7% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Rents run highest in the southwest and lowest in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Santa Cruz
Bachelor's degrees in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.2% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 47.6% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 51.1% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 53.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.1 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Santa Cruz: 53.3% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 5.1 points, as it has nationally.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.3% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.4% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Santa Cruz is above the national rate: 93.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Santa Cruz
| Period | Santa Cruz | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.0% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little harder to find in Santa Cruz than nationally: unemployment was 6.1%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Santa Cruz compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 2.45 | 38.6 | 8.1% | 47.0% | 9.3% | 1971 | $2,418 | 53.3% | 93.8% | 6.1% |
| Capitola | 2.15 | 47.6 | 9.9% | 48.3% | 10.4% | 1974 | $2,416 | 47.0% | 90.6% | 2.2% |
| Soquel | 2.63 | 44.9 | 7.8% | 26.1% | 7.0% | 1976 | $2,127 | 52.2% | 96.8% | 6.0% |
| Scotts Valley | 2.45 | 47.2 | 6.6% | 24.8% | 6.4% | 1982 | $2,621 | 57.7% | 96.0% | 3.6% |
| Mount Hermon | 2.01 | 45.2 | 4.9% | 34.9% | 18.0% | 1956 | $1,953 | 63.2% | 98.3% | 2.2% |
| Felton | 2.41 | 44.9 | 6.0% | 22.4% | 8.1% | 1962 | $2,341 | 58.5% | 98.2% | 4.2% |
| Aptos | 2.52 | 47.2 | 8.7% | 30.9% | 10.0% | 1977 | $2,336 | 48.7% | 96.3% | 5.7% |
| Rio del Mar | 2.42 | 51.2 | 5.8% | 24.7% | 16.6% | 1972 | $3,399 | 64.9% | 97.8% | 5.6% |
| Ben Lomond | 2.45 | 47.2 | 8.4% | 28.6% | 4.8% | 1963 | $2,385 | 46.0% | 98.1% | 10.8% |
| La Selva Beach | 2.31 | 49.5 | 5.1% | 22.3% | 20.2% | 1970 | $3,297 | 63.0% | 95.3% | 2.2% |
| Corralitos | 1.92 | 62.1 | 0.8% | 16.5% | 0.6% | 1975 | $2,041 | 41.4% | 98.3% | 0.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Yonkers, NY · York, PA · Yorba Linda, CA · Weston, FL · Williamsburg, VA · Winston-Salem, NC · Wilmington, DE · West Jordan, UT · West Covina, CA · Whittier, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Santa Cruz. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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