United States › California › Santa Cruz CITY · 2000 CENSUS
Santa Cruz California · 54,593 residents · 12.7 sq mi
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The short version
Santa Cruz is home to 54,593 people in California. The typical home is worth $397,100, having risen by half since 1990. This is an unusually credentialed place: 44% of adults have a four-year degree. Owners hold 47% of the housing stock. Median rent is $941 a month. This skews young, with a median age of 31.7.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 31.7
US median: 35.2
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01
Population & growth from 30.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
47K 52K 57K 61K 66K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Santa Cruz Age distribution, 2000
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $50,605
+21%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $31,857 in 1990
US average: $42,589
from $15,538 in 1990
US average: $21,522
from 15.7% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
$397,100
+16%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $259,800 in 1990
US average: $120,530
$941
+1%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $707 in 1990
US average: $602
from 47.4% in 1990
53.4% rent
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 1990
White, non-Hispanic 85.9%(42,110)
Hispanic / Latino 13.2%(6,467)
2000
White, non-Hispanic 72%(39,304)
Hispanic / Latino 17.4%(9,491)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.
Hispanic origin
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 3 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 44 more ancestry groups with data from 35.2% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
from 85.7% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
from 13.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07
Work & employment No data for the years selected.
Section 08
People & community No data for the years selected.
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 48.2%(11,096)
Women 15+
Never married 42.2%(9,916)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09
Health coverage Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).
from 12.6% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 60.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 25.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 14.1% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 13.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 1.2% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 80.9% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 25.0% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 18.4%(240)
Share of the 1,307 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Santa Cruz, California? Santa Cruz, California has about 54,593 residents according to the 2000 Census.
What is the median household income in Santa Cruz, California? The typical household in Santa Cruz, California earns about $50,605 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Santa Cruz, California expensive? In Santa Cruz, California, the median home is worth about $397,100, and the typical rent is about $941 a month.
How educated are people in Santa Cruz, California? About 44.4% of adults age 25 and over in Santa Cruz, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Santa Cruz, California? About 16.5% of people in Santa Cruz, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Santa Cruz, California grown since 1990? Yes, Santa Cruz, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,553 residents, a change of about 11 percent over that period.
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