With a population of 62,714 residents, Santa Cruz, California is a coastal community that has a distinct blend of lifestyles and neighborhoods. Situated along the beautiful Monterey Bay, this city boasts beautiful houses on the beach with ocean views. On top of cliffs and hills in Santa Cruz there are luxury homes that give people a taste of what life should be like for them by providing uninterrupted scenes as water crashes into land and irregular coastline creates great backdrops. With trendy eateries, cool shops, and an exciting music and art centre that caters to bohemian youths; Santa Cruz's downtown is always alive with activity. The eastern and western sides further from the town center contain comfy family homes some of which have ocean views and easy reach beaches. Santa Cruz would not be complete without mentioning UCSC campus whose students bring fresh energy by and stimulate cultural development in many ways. Santa Cruz offers something for everyone "“ whether you love luxury homes by the coastlines, want to live downtown among all sorts of interesting characters, need great places to raise your kids in suburbs or prefer living close to an educational institution where learning never stops. More about Santa Cruz: https://www.burrowes.com/santa-cruz/
Santa Cruz, CA Housing Market & City Data
Explore key insights and real experiences from people who call Santa Cruz home. Use the data below as a starting point to compare and discover what makes this city a great place to live.
Santa Cruz City Reviews
Real experiences from people who call Santa Cruz home.
Santa Cruz is lovely! You have beaches, charm, and redwood mountains. There is a saying "Keep Santa Cruz Weird" and "Beware of Locals" but don't be fooled! Folks here are genuine and full of spunk. You will enjoy walking Downtown, seeing local art, and touring the craft beer circuit for sure. Santa Cruz is family and dog friendly - all around a great place to be!
Housing & Demographic Overview
Key insights about the community
HOUSING DATA (September 2026)
HOUSEHOLD OVERVIEW
EDUCATION, GENDER & MARITAL STATUS
EDUCATION
- No Highschool Degree or GED6.1%
- Highschool Education12.4%
- Some College27.7%
- Bachelors Degree28.0%
- Graduate Degree25.8%
- Total College or Above53.8%
- Stem Degree56.0%
GENDER BREAKDOWN
- Male49.2%
- Female50.8%
MARITAL STATUS
- Married30.5%
- Divorced10.3%
- Never Married56.3%
- Widowed2.8%
CITY DATA & AGE BREAKDOWN
CITY DATA
AGE BREAKDOWN
| Age Group | % of Population |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 24.4% |
| 19–29 | 27.3% |
| 30–39 | 10.1% |
| 40–49 | 10.4% |
| Age Group | % of Population |
|---|---|
| 50–59 | 10.4% |
| 60–69 | 9.7% |
| 70–79 | 5.4% |
| 80+ | 2.2% |
WORKFORCE, ETHNICITY & OTHER
WORKFORCE
ETHNICITY
OTHER
Local Discussions
Community questions and conversations about living in Santa Cruz, CA.
- Is Santa Cruz, CA a good place to buy a house?0
Local perspectives on Santa Cruz home prices, buyer demand, neighborhoods, and what to consider before buying a home.
- What are the best neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA for families?0
Local insights on Santa Cruz neighborhoods, schools, parks, commute times, and other factors families may want to consider.
- What should home buyers know about the Santa Cruz, CA housing market?0
Local insights on Santa Cruz home prices, housing inventory, buyer competition, and current real estate market conditions.
- Is it better to buy or rent a home in Santa Cruz, CA?0
Compare Santa Cruz home prices, rents, monthly housing costs, and other factors that can affect the decision to buy or rent.
- What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA?0
Explore Santa Cruz neighborhoods where home buyers may find more affordable housing options and better value for their budget.
- How much income do you need to buy a house in Santa Cruz, CA?0
Learn how Santa Cruz home prices, down payments, mortgage costs, and other expenses can affect how much income buyers may need.
- How much are property taxes on a home in Santa Cruz, CA?0
Learn how Santa Cruz property taxes are calculated and how they can affect the overall cost of owning a home.
- What are the best neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA for first-time home buyers?0
Explore Santa Cruz neighborhoods first-time home buyers may consider based on home prices, location, amenities, and lifestyle.
- What is it like to live in Santa Cruz, CA?0
Local perspectives on Santa Cruz neighborhoods, cost of living, weather, commuting, things to do, and everyday life.
- What should I know before moving to Santa Cruz, CA?0
What newcomers should know about Santa Cruz housing costs, neighborhoods, transportation, weather, and everyday expenses.
Top Real Estate Agents in Santa Cruz, CA
Neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA
Get to know neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, ordered by the number of properties in the provider sample.

Pleasure Point ↗
- Median asking price
- $1,487,000
- / sq ft
- —
- Active listings
- Not available
- properties in discovery sample
- 109
BNearby schools · estimated
6.8/10 · 5 schools

Seabright ↗
- Median asking price
- $1,160,000
- / sq ft
- $766
- Active listings
- 9
- properties in discovery sample
- 94
—Nearby schools · estimated
Ratings not available

Prospect Heights ↗
- Median asking price
- $1,149,500
- / sq ft
- $712
- Active listings
- 3
- properties in discovery sample
- 39
—Nearby schools · estimated
Ratings not available

Roundtree ↗
- Median asking price
- $580,000
- / sq ft
- —
- Active listings
- Not available
- properties in discovery sample
- 22
BNearby schools · estimated
7/10 · 5 schools

Pasatiempo ↗
- Median asking price
- $1,187,000
- / sq ft
- —
- Active listings
- Not available
- properties in discovery sample
- 5
BNearby schools · estimated
7/10 · 9 schools
Data as of . Listing snapshots from Redfin; nearby-school rating estimates.
About these neighborhood estimates
Prices and counts describe active listings returned by the provider, excluding coming-soon and nearby search results. They are asking prices, not sold prices, and may not include every home for sale.
Nearby-school grades are FastExpert estimates from the average available ratings of unique public schools returned for sampled neighborhood properties. A: 8–10; B: 6–under 8; C: 4–under 6; D: 2–under 4; F: 1–under 2. Unrated schools are excluded. Nearby schools may not be assigned to a specific address.
Photos show identified local landmarks. Five neighborhoods are shown, ordered by property count. Median asking price breaks a tie.
