CensusEasy
METRO AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Santa Cruz Metro

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 1 counties · 229,734 residents · 445.106 sq mi
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The short version

Santa Cruz is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $37,112. Population has declined 10% since 2000. 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $255,400.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.3
US median: 33.0
More educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
229,734
−10%vs 2000
vs 255,602 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
516 / sq mi
−10%vs 2000
vs 574 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 221
Median age
33.3
−5%vs 2000
vs 35.0 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
225K239K252K265K278K1990201020202024Santa Cruz
2024265K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,112
−9%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $53,998 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$17,347
−34%vs 2000
vs $26,396 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
10.7%
−1.2 ptsvs 2000
vs 11.9% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$255,400
−5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $353,300 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$713
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $924 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
59.9%
−0.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 60.0% in 2000
40.1% rent
Afford Score
6.9
+5%vs 2000
vs 6.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
1990
White, non-Hispanic84.1%(193,204)
Black1%(2,289)
Hispanic / Latino19.9%(45,827)
Asian3.8%(8,747)
Other11.1%(25,494)
Diversity Score58.9%(135,292)
Diversity Score
59
+2%vs 2000
vs 58 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
29.7%
−4.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 34.2% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
81.9%
−1.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 83.2% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
10.4%
−2.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 12.5% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.1 min
+17%vs 2000
vs 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

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+181%
Home value$555,100+117%
Population283,374+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
San Luis Obispo
Income$97,446+163%
Home value$824,700+223%
Population282,367+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
Boulder
Income$103,994+180%
Home value$756,300+196%
Population328,560+27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
Barnstable
Income$95,241+157%
Home value$629,000+146%
Population233,539−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA has about 229,734 residents according to the 1990 Census.

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

The typical household in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns about $37,112 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 $255,400, and the typical rent is about $713 a month.

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

About 29.7% 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 10.7% of people in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA live below the federal poverty line.

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

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