Living in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a large place in California, United States, home to 64,220 people. Of the 29 household profiles on Nestlyzer, its strongest are outdoor and mountain lovers (top 11%, #1,708 of 16,523), early retirees (top 15%, #1,610 of 10,762), retired couples (top 19%, #1,745 of 9,474).
See Santa Cruz on the map
Open in NestlyzerGood to know about Santa Cruz
- It is right on the coast of the Monterey Bay.
- On the shortest day the sun is up for 9 h 37 min and sets around 1:55; in late June it sets around 5:31.
How Santa Cruz ranks
Scores run 0 to 100 against every municipality in United States. Ranks count only the places that pass each profile's minimums, so the totals differ by profile. Local data: official statistics on affordability, green space, education and family, health and elderly, jobs and economy, lifestyle and amenities, mobility and connectivity and safety and community (local or regional figures, sources on every place page) plus population and geography.
| Profile | Score | In United States | In California | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young family | 37 | #9,090 of 11,898 | #380 of 863 | Map |
| Low-income household | 10 | #9,507 of 9,771 | #606 of 775 | Map |
| Low-income family | 25 | #7,407 of 8,006 | #350 of 709 | Map |
| Single parent | 33 | #5,509 of 6,237 | #303 of 612 | Map |
| Pensioner couple | 68 | #1,745 of 9,474 | #195 of 760 | Map |
| Single pensioner | 63 | #3,564 of 9,474 | #285 of 760 | Map |
| Early retiree | 68 | #1,610 of 10,762 | #208 of 811 | Map |
| Single professional | 48 | #3,037 of 4,537 | #372 of 532 | Map |
| Young professional | not ranked: below the minimum for regional access | – | Map | |
| DINKS | not ranked: below the minimum for regional access | – | Map | |
| Remote worker | 54 | #5,136 of 7,271 | #288 of 648 | Map |
| Commuter | 49 | #5,751 of 6,227 | #548 of 645 | Map |
| Car-free household | not ranked: below the minimum for regional access | – | Map | |
| Student | not ranked: below the minimum for regional access | – | Map | |
| First-home buyer | 22 | #7,532 of 8,006 | #582 of 709 | Map |
| Budget-constrained mover | 13 | #11,795 of 12,111 | #636 of 862 | Map |
| Urban lifestyle seeker | not ranked: below the minimum for regional access | – | Map | |
| Expat professional | 64 | #2,607 of 7,271 | #325 of 648 | Map |
| Healthcare-first mover | 66 | #2,697 of 9,474 | #257 of 760 | Map |
| Nature-focused household | 19 | #17,034 of 18,063 | #613 of 1060 | Map |
| Cross-border commuter | not ranked: must-have: a border within 45 km where pay is higher on the other side | – | Map | |
| Outdoor and mountain lover | 47 | #1,708 of 16,523 | #209 of 1020 | Map |
| Rural value seeker | 1 | #17,791 of 18,063 | #826 of 1060 | Map |
| High-net-worth mover | 68 | #2,457 of 16,523 | #286 of 1020 | Map |
| Lottery winner | 68 | #2,978 of 21,167 | #348 of 1147 | Map |
| Climate-resilient relocation | 65 | #4,201 of 12,111 | #141 of 862 | Map |
| Coastal living | 71 | #1,285 of 6,413 | #92 of 490 | Map |
| Business owner | 57 | #5,055 of 12,111 | #485 of 862 | Map |
| Digital native | 48 | #2,483 of 4,750 | #324 of 551 | Map |
Strengths and trade-offs
Nearby
- Live Oak (California, 17,158 residents) 5 km
- Soquel 7 km
- Capitola 7 km
- Scotts Valley 9 km
- Rio Del Mar 12 km
- Aptos 12 km
- Ben Lomond 14 km
- Watsonville 25 km
Data: Eurostat GISCO LAU 2024; locations EDJNet LAU centres; airports OurAirports; coastline Natural Earth. Updated 2026-10-31. Rankings are decision aids, not advice.