Population 264,926 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Santa Cruz County: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Santa Cruz County
Household size in Santa Cruz County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.75 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.82 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.82 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.74 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Santa Cruz County average 2.74 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Even so, the typical household here is smaller than in California overall, where it has 3.01 people.
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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.3 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 38.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in Santa Cruz County is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is older than in California as a whole, where the median age is 39.0. The median age has climbed from 37.3 in 2006–10, 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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Santa Cruz County than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 2.1 points since 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 County
Renters in Santa Cruz County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.9% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 40.1% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is a bit more common in Santa Cruz County than nationally: 40.1% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. Still, renters make up a smaller share here than in California overall (44.1%). More than a third of owners (36.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the south; owners are most common in the northwest.
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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.0% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.6% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Santa Cruz County is close to the national rate: 8.6% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.9 points, as it has nationally.
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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1973 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Santa Cruz County run older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1973 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Santa Cruz County has older homes than at least four in five California counties.
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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,314 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,469 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,822 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,361 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,047 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Santa Cruz County pays $2,361 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,047 a month since 2006–10, up 80%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 34.4% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 County
Bachelor's degrees in Santa Cruz County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.4% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 41.0% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.8% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.6 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are more common in Santa Cruz County than nationally: 42.8% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 5.6 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the west and least in the southeast.
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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 83.0% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.9% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 87.4% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About one in eight adults in Santa Cruz County never finished high school, a bit more than nationally: 87.4% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% across the U.S. Still, the rate is higher than in California overall (84.2%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 County
| Period | Santa Cruz County | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment runs a little high in Santa Cruz County: 6.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has fallen 2.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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 County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County | 2.74 | 40.7 | 9.8% | 40.1% | 8.6% | 1973 | $2,361 | 42.8% | 87.4% | 6.2% |
| San Benito County | 3.30 | 36.6 | 15.0% | 32.1% | 4.3% | 1988 | $1,974 | 25.1% | 84.3% | 5.3% |
| Madera County | 3.57 | 35.6 | 18.3% | 32.5% | 9.7% | 1989 | $1,602 | 18.3% | 72.2% | 10.2% |
| Morton County | 2.61 | 47.9 | 10.9% | 14.6% | 25.0% | 1967 | $628 | 16.3% | 80.9% | 0.9% |
| Seward County | 2.96 | 34.0 | 19.2% | 38.2% | 13.4% | 1975 | $928 | 11.3% | 68.5% | 5.2% |
| Beaver County | 3.07 | 39.5 | 9.4% | 19.1% | 31.3% | 1970 | $818 | 21.2% | 84.8% | 3.5% |
| Ottawa County | 2.48 | 37.5 | 13.9% | 32.5% | 12.4% | 1973 | $808 | 14.9% | 87.5% | 3.0% |
| Newton County | 2.71 | 40.1 | 11.4% | 23.4% | 11.3% | 1984 | $811 | 22.6% | 88.8% | 5.8% |
| Lawrence County | 2.70 | 39.8 | 10.3% | 26.1% | 11.7% | 1980 | $855 | 16.9% | 87.4% | 4.2% |
| Christian County | 2.65 | 39.2 | 9.0% | 24.1% | 5.2% | 1998 | $1,093 | 33.1% | 93.9% | 3.4% |
| Douglas County | 2.61 | 44.1 | 7.2% | 19.4% | 11.7% | 1987 | $871 | 14.7% | 87.1% | 5.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yuma County, AZ · Harrison County, MS · Hawaii County, HI · St. Louis County, MN · Sumner County, TN · Sussex County, DE · Trumbull County, OH · Tuscaloosa County, AL · Caddo Parish, LA · Union County, NC
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 County. 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.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.