Firstly why Santa-Cruz, California?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Santa-Cruz
• State: California
• Population: 65,373 people
• Santa-Cruz’s quick summary would be a beach lover’s paradise known for its boardwalk and vibrant surf culture this city boasts year-round outdoor fun and stunning coastal views.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 1,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 555 annually
• Net Migration: 445 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 1,564
• Number of Homeless people: 800

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it known for its beach culture and outdoor lifestyle attracting students and nature lovers

Perk #1: Santa-Cruz Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 32%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 52%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is White
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $75,936
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Santa-Cruz is $145,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $69064 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Santa-Cruz’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 182 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $3,000
• Property Tax %: 0.94%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $3,200
• Rent for an average house: $4,000
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Santa Cruz
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Santa-Cruz, Downtown, Westside, Seabright, and probably could include Live Oak
• Avg. Age of Homes in Santa-Cruz: 54 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 1.3%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Santa-Cruz’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Santa-Cruz are  Tourism, Agriculture, and Education
• Santa-Cruz Job Scene: growing job market centered on tourism and education
• The General Tech Scene: circular economy focus with sustainable tech startups and innovative businesses , ,
• Santa-Cruz Resident’s pay $2,400 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Santa-Cruz: 9.25%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 350 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 6

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Santa-Cruz

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $145 on average per person
• Freeway Access: Highway 1 connects Santa Cruz to coastal areas
• Commute Time: 28 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: backs up on Pacific Avenue
• Transportation Score: 62 out of 100 described as Good Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Santa-Cruz: 59,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.9
• No. of Car Washes: 3 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Santa-Cruz: dmv.ca.gov
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 83 of 100
• Local Airport: Santa Cruz

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Santa-Cruz’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Wildfire
• General Weather in Santa-Cruz is best described as experiences mild winters with cool temperatures and warm dry summers with occasional fog
• Winter Weather in Santa-Cruz i’d describe as cool with rainy weather
• Spring Weather in Santa-Cruz can be described as mild and beautiful
• Summer’s in Santa-Cruz are mostly cool and coastal
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Santa-Cruz is usually mild and sunny
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 9 days in summer
• Days in a row in Santa-Cruz below Freezing: 0
• Average Annual Rainfall: 20 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually good air quality with coastal breezes
• Santa-Cruz Winter Air generally good air quality with limited pollution sources

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Santa-Cruz Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Santa-Cruz 6
• While the number of trade schools inside Santa-Cruzs’s city limits are 2
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Santa Cruz Public Library

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Santa-Cruz Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 11 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Santa-Cruz only Doctors is about 70
• Local Hospitals here is  2
• Full-time Santa-Cruz only Police Officers is about 83
• Crime Rate Index: 64/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Santa-Cruz’s Monthly utility bill average is $245
• Santa-Cruz’s Monthly Gym Membership: $70
• Santa-Cruz’s Water Quality Score: 90

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Santa-Cruz

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 8 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: beach town known for its boardwalk and vibrant arts culture
• You might enjoy shows at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Santa-Cruz  has a lively nightlife filled with beach parties bars and cultural events along the coastline

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Santa-Cruz

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes beachside dining and a variety of cuisines
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 180 scattered around Santa-Cruz
• The Popular Sports Team is Santa Cruz Warriors
• Top Level Political Climate in Santa-Cruz can be described as liberal coastal community focused on environmental protection
• Santa-Cruz’s Longer standing religious establishment is Santa Cruz Christian Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Santa-Cruz Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Santa-Cruz has 17 Parks?
• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is Santa-Cruz’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Santa Cruz Farmers Market normally open Saturday 9am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Beach activities, surfing, and hiking

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Santa-Cruz Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Santa-Cruz can be described as energetic coastal city known for its beach life and arts
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Santa-Cruz beach activities local events hiking trails
• The Cities people commute to from Santa-Cruz are Capitola 4 miles away Scotts-Valley 11 miles away Watsonville 21 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Santa-Cruz or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: backs up on Pacific Avenue. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Santa-Cruz’s Wildfire risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Santa Cruz is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Santa-Cruz are Capitola 4 miles away Scotts-Valley 11 miles away Watsonville 21 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 64 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Santa-Cruz has 0 days in a row below freezing and 9 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Santa-Cruz people have an average (positive or negative) $69064 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   800 homeless people living in Santa-Cruz. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general liberal coastal community focused on environmental protection could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Santa-Cruz.

Retiree & Senior Life in Santa-Cruz

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can can receive property tax exemptions offering financial assistance
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is Maple House
• Santa Cruz Senior Center features diverse programs health workshops and recreational activities

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Santa-Cruz, California?

If Santa-Cruz, California ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Santa-Cruz, California, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!