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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Santa Cruz Metro

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA · 1 counties · 270,861 residents · 445.106 sq mi
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The short version

Santa Cruz is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $89,986. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $787,000.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 40.2
US median: 38.8
More educated
42% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
270,861
+6%since 2000
from 255,602 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
609 / sq mi
+6%since 2000
from 574 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
40.2
+15%since 2000
from 35.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
225K239K252K265K278K1990201020202024Santa Cruz
2024265K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$89,986
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $53,998 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,278
+68%since 2000
from $26,396 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
58.6%
+14.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.8% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
11.9%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information10.6%
US avg: 11.1%
Retail trade8.6%
US avg: 10%
Wholesale trade6.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.8%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction4.8%
US avg: 1.2%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Finance & insurance3.8%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3%
US avg: 4.7%
Transportation & warehousing2.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food2.3%
US avg: 2%
Public administration2.2%
US avg: 4.7%
Education & health services0.8%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$787,000
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $353,300 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,843
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $924 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
58.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2000
from 60.0% in 2000
41.8% rent
Afford Score
8.7
+34%since 2000
from 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)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic53.7%(145,551)
Black1.1%(2,850)
Hispanic / Latino34.8%(94,299)
Asian4.5%(12,072)
Other3.8%(10,244)
Diversity Score71%(192,334)
Segregation Score47.2%(127,759)
Diversity Score
71
+23%since 2000
from 58 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
47
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
41.8%
+7.6 ptssince 2000
from 34.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
88.3%
+5.1 ptssince 2000
from 83.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
17.4%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 12.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
27.5 min
+28%since 2000
from 21.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
68.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 71.3% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
5.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.3%
−1.8 ptssince 2011
from 66.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
44.2%
−22.4 ptssince 2009
from 66.6% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 50.1% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 49.9% in 2009
Foreign born
17.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.2%
−79.9 ptssince 2013
from 85.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+16%
Home value$555,100−29%
Population283,374+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
San Luis Obispo
Income$97,446+8%
Home value$824,700+5%
Population282,367+9%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
Boulder
Income$103,994+16%
Home value$756,300−4%
Population328,560+27%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANTA CRUZ VS
Barnstable
Income$95,241+6%
Home value$629,000−20%
Population233,539−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

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

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA has about 270,861 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA earns about $89,986 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 $787,000, and the typical rent is about $1,843 a month.

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

About 41.8% 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 11.9% 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 41,127 residents, a change of about 18 percent over that period.

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

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