Santa Cruz County Summary

Life in Santa Cruz County research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Santa Cruz County over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Santa Cruz County:

  • The population in Santa Cruz County is 268,571.

  • The median home value in Santa Cruz County is $1,147,849.

  • The median income in Santa Cruz County is $104,409.

  • The median rent in Santa Cruz County is $2,094.

  • The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County is 5.9%.

  • The poverty rate in Santa Cruz County is 11.4%.

  • The average high in Santa Cruz County is 61.4° and there are 62.1 inches of rainfall annually.

Cities & Towns in Santa Cruz County

List Of Cities & Towns in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz, CA Population 61,367

Watsonville, CA Population 52,457

Live Oak, CA Population 17,707

Scotts Valley, CA Population 12,239

Soquel, CA Population 10,505

Capitola, CA Population 9,921

Rio del Mar, CA Population 9,007

Interlaken, CA Population 8,039

Ben Lomond, CA Population 7,247

Aptos, CA Population 6,614

Pleasure Point, CA Population 5,909

Boulder Creek, CA Population 5,492

Felton, CA Population 3,701

Seacliff, CA Population 3,550

Freedom, CA Population 3,360

Day Valley, CA Population 3,252

Amesti, CA Population 3,048

Bonny Doon, CA Population 2,858

La Selva Beach, CA Population 2,320

Corralitos, CA Population 2,154

Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, CA Population 1,746

Pasatiempo, CA Population 1,264

Mount Hermon, CA Population 1,174

Brookdale, CA Population 1,128

Lompico, CA Population 911

Davenport, CA Population 650

Paradise Park, CA Population 538

Zayante, CA Population 451

Pajaro Dunes, CA Population 93

Twin Lakes, CA Population 0

Map Of Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County, CA Weather

  • The average high in Santa Cruz County is 61.4°.

  • There are 99.83 nice days each year.

  • Expect an average of 62.1 inches of rain each year with 0.0 inches of snow.

  • There is an average of 7:23 hours of sun each day in Santa Cruz County.

StatSanta Cruz County
Mean High61.4
Nice Days99.83
Rainfall62.1
Snowfall0.0
Sunny_hours7:23
61.4°
Average High
62.1
Inches of Rain

Santa Cruz County Photos

Beach Scene At Capitolac California
Source: Public Domain
Capitola Smt
Source: Wikipedia User Smtunli, Svein-Magne Tunl | CC BY-SA 3.0
Capitolac California
Source: Wikipedia User Henry Zbyszynski from Cam | CC BY 2.0
Sunset Marina
Source: Wikipedia User Mr. Brendel | GFDL
Downtown Santa Cruzc Cropped
Source: Wikipedia User Aaronbrick | GFDL
California Santa Cruz Street With Cars And Shops
Source: Public Domain

Santa Cruz County Demographics

Population over time in Santa Cruz County

The current population in Santa Cruz County is 268,571. The population has decreased -0.7% from 2019.

Year Population % Change
2022 272,138 -0.4%
2021 273,170 -0.3%
2020 273,962 -

Gender in Santa Cruz County

  • Santa Cruz County is 50.0% female with 134,315 female residents.

  • Santa Cruz County is 50.0% male with 134,256 male residents.

Female
50.0% (134,315)
Male
50.0% (134,256)
Gender Santa Cruz County CA USA
Female 50.0% 49.9% 50.4%
Male 50.0% 50.1% 49.6%

Race / Ethnicity in Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County is:

  • 55.7% White with 149,686 White residents.

  • 0.8% African American with 2,193 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 182 American Indian residents.

  • 4.7% Asian with 12,536 Asian residents.

  • 0.2% Hawaiian with 452 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.5% Other with 1,324 Other residents.

  • 3.8% Two Or More with 10,275 Two Or More residents.

  • 34.2% Hispanic with 91,923 Hispanic residents.

White
55.7% (149,686)
African American
0.8% (2,193)
American Indian
0.1% (182)
Asian
4.7% (12,536)
Hawaiian
0.2% (452)
Other
0.5% (1,324)
Two Or More
3.8% (10,275)
Hispanic
34.2% (91,923)

Table: Santa Cruz County By Race

Race Santa Cruz County CA USA
White 55.7% 35.2% 58.9%
African American 0.8% 5.3% 12.1%
American Indian 0.1% 0.3% 0.6%
Asian 4.7% 14.9% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.2% 0.3% 0.2%
Other 0.5% 0.4% 0.4%
Two Or More 3.8% 3.8% 3.5%
Hispanic 34.2% 39.7% 18.7%

Household Income For Santa Cruz County, California

  • 3.9% of households in Santa Cruz County earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.8% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 5.4% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 5.1% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 7.6% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 11.5% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 11.9% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 16.8% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 12.6% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 22.4% of households in Santa Cruz County earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
3.9% (10,443)
$10,000 to $14,999
2.8% (7,557)
$15,000 to $24,999
5.4% (14,390)
$25,000 to $34,999
5.1% (13,744)
$35,000 to $49,999
7.6% (20,528)
$50,000 to $74,999
11.5% (30,860)
$75,000 to $99,999
11.9% (31,843)
$100,000 to $149,999
16.8% (45,240)
$150,000 to $199,999
12.6% (33,852)
$200,000 or more
22.4% (60,109)
Income Santa Cruz County CA USA
Less than $10,000 3.9% 4.4% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.8% 3.2% 3.8%
$15,000 to $24,999 5.4% 5.6% 7.0%
$25,000 to $34,999 5.1% 6.0% 7.4%
$35,000 to $49,999 7.6% 8.7% 10.7%
$50,000 to $74,999 11.5% 13.7% 16.1%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.9% 12.0% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 16.8% 17.8% 17.1%
$150,000 to $199,999 12.6% 10.7% 8.8%
$200,000 or more 22.4% 17.9% 11.4%

Highest level of educational attainment in Santa Cruz County for adults over 25

  • 7.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed < 9th grade.

  • 4.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed 9-12th grade.

  • 16.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed high school / ged.

  • 22.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed some college.

  • 8.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed associate's degree.

  • 25.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed bachelor's degree.

  • 12.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed master's degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed professional degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Santa Cruz County completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
7% (18,799)
9-12th Grade
4% (10,742)
High School / GED
16% (42,971)
Some College
22% (59,085)
Associate's Degree
8% (21,485)
Bachelor's Degree
25% (67,142)
Master's Degree
12% (32,228)
Professional Degree
3% (8,057)
Doctorate Degree
3% (8,057)
Education Santa Cruz County CA USA
< 9th Grade 7% 8% 3%
9-12th Grade 4% 7% 6%
High School / GED 16% 20% 26%
Some College 22% 20% 20%
Associate's Degree 8% 8% 9%
Bachelor's Degree 25% 22% 21%
Master's Degree 12% 9% 10%
Professional Degree 3% 3% 2%
Doctorate Degree 3% 2% 2%

Articles About California

Enjoy The Snack?

About HomeSnacks

HomeSnacks is based in Durham, NC.

We aim to deliver bite-sized pieces of infotainment about where you live.

We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine quality of life for places across the nation.

© Chasing Chains, LLC. All rights reserved.