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METRO AREA

Santa Cruz Metro

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 1 counties · 258,852 residents (2025 est.) · 445.106 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#4Highest median rentof 925$2,264#6Most expensive homesof 925$1,027,500#14Highest median household incomeof 925$111,093#36Most work-from-homeof 92519.3%
The short version

Santa Cruz is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $111,093. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $1,027,500. It ranks in the top 1% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 39.8
US median: 38.9
More educated
44% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 60%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
264,926
+4%since 2000
from 255,602 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
595 / sq mi
+4%since 2000
from 574 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
39.8
+14%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:258,852 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
225K239K252K265K278K1990201020202024Santa Cruz
2024265K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$111,093
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,998 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$56,941
+116%since 2000
from $26,396 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
65.9%
+22.0 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.483
+3%since 2010
from 0.467 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade8%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade6.9%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction4.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services4%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical3.2%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food2.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Public administration2.1%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,027,500
+60%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $353,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,264
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $924 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
59.9%
−0.1 ptssince 2000
from 60.0% in 2000
40.1% rent
Vacancy rate
9.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
30.6%
−13.8 ptssince 2009
from 44.4% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
48.7%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
9.2
+41%since 2000
from 6.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
64
RELATED:See current rent listings in Santa Cruz on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic65.5%(167,464)
Black0.8%(2,160)
Hispanic / Latino26.8%(68,486)
Asian3.3%(8,464)
Other0%
Diversity Score57.5%(147,079)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic53.9%(142,831)
Black0.7%(1,912)
Hispanic / Latino35.2%(93,346)
Asian4.7%(12,345)
Other5.5%(14,492)
Diversity Score72.5%(192,061)
Segregation Score44.4%(117,584)
Diversity Score
72
+26%since 2000
from 58 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
44
−6%since 2020
from 47 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
43.9%
+9.8 ptssince 2000
from 34.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.6%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
18.6%
+6.1 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.7 min
+19%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
62.2%
−9.2 ptssince 2009
from 71.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.1%
−3.0 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.9%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
19.3%
+12.7 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
4.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
2.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.8%
−3.4 ptssince 2011
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.3%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.4%
−18.2 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
50.2%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
18.0%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.7%
−46.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.7% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2012
from 8.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.9%
−80.2 ptssince 2013
from 85.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
94.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2017
from 85.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
66.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2016
from 68.1% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
26.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 25.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

Santa CruzCENTRAL61,797WatsonvilleCENTRAL50,716
What's inside

1 component county

Santa Cruz CountyCENTRAL258,852
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Santa Cruz

Bremerton
Pop 283,374
San Luis Obispo
Pop 282,367
Boulder
Pop 328,560
Barnstable
Pop 233,539
Places similar to Santa Cruz
Head to head

Compare Santa Cruz side by side

SANTA CRUZ VS
Bremerton
Income$104,158−6%
Home value$555,100−46%
Population283,374+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
San Luis Obispo
Income$97,446−12%
Home value$824,700−20%
Population282,367+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
Boulder
Income$103,994−6%
Home value$756,300−26%
Population328,560+27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
Barnstable
Income$95,241−14%
Home value$629,000−39%
Population233,539−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA has about 264,926 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

The typical household in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns about $111,093 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA expensive?

In Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, the median home is worth about $1,027,500, and the typical rent is about $2,264 a month.

How educated are people in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

About 43.9% of adults age 25 and over in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?

About 11.6% of people in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA grown since 1990?

Yes, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 35,192 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →