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Pros and Cons of Living in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz

City in California

LIVABILITY RATING

56

/ 100

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City Scores and Ratings

D+

LIVABILITY

D+

COST

C-

EDUCATION

F

CRIME

Events Nearby

Pros and Cons of Living in Santa Cruz

You might be looking to move to Santa Cruz, California or just interested in the city’s livability, so to help you, we’ve put together the pros and cons of living in Santa Cruz. This assessment ranks the factors used to assess livability and compares them against other cities on a national and state level. While this assessment should give a good detailed idea about the advantages and disadvantages of living in Santa Cruz, it might not incorporate all areas that might appeal to some people.

Since moving to a new city can be a big decision. Hopefully, this evaluation will help you in your career change, relocation, or just a change.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

Details of Pros and Cons

Living in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz is a mid sized city in the state of California which is located in the county of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has recently seen a recent decline in new residents moving to the area after a few years of consistent growth. The population has reached 64273 with a population growth rate of -0.1% in the last year and 2.3% in the last 5 years.Living in Santa Cruz has a urban feel, which can be generally more fast paced than the surrounding suburban areas but not as fast paced as more extremely packed cities. Usually there isn't a problem finding new things to do and your money goes a little further for the space compared to other cities.

City Type:

Urban

Home Value:

$803,800

Mortgage:

$2,777

The estimates above for a typical home value and mortgage are based on median values for the area. Data sources: American Community Survey and the US Census.

Is Santa Cruz, California a good place to live?

Yes, Santa Cruz is a great place to live. Santa Cruz ranks well in a combination of factors and diversity. Santa Cruz  truly has something for everyone, and that’s why it’s a great place to call home.

Ultimately, what makes a great city to live in is subjective. Some people might prefer a smaller city with a tight-knit community, while others might prefer a larger city with more options. The important thing is that a city provides what its residents need and want. If a city has everything a person is looking for, it can be a great place to live.

There are a lot of factors that make a city a good place to live. One of the most important is affordability. Housing costs shouldn’t consume too much of a person’s income. Another important factor is job availability. A city should have a healthy economy and a variety of jobs to choose from.

A city also needs to be safe. People should feel comfortable walking around at night and there shouldn’t be a lot of crime. Amenities are another important factor. A city should have a variety of restaurants, bars, and other places to go out. It’s also nice if a city has a lot of parks and green spaces.

Finally, a city should be diverse. There should be a variety of cultures and religions represented. People should feel welcome to live in any part of the city. A city that meets all these criteria is a great place to live.

Pros and Cons Details

Pros of Living in Santa Cruz

  • Livability – Santa Cruz’s overall livability score is above average. This rating is the sum of the city’s data points and factors, and then a weighting of these variables is used to determine a good standard quality of life compared to other cities. The livability score considers education, crime, cost of living, and residents’ overall happiness calculated as a predictive index through our advanced statistical models.
  • Cost of Living – When choosing a new place to live, the cost of living is a significant consideration. The cost of living in Santa Cruz is lower than the national average and most cities in the state. While some areas can be higher than others on a state and federal level, the overall average of housing costs, utilities, grocery items, transportation, health care, and miscellaneous goods and services are less expensive.
  • Education – See our full report on education in Santa Cruz, and why it is a significant pro and consideration for living here.

Cons of Living in Santa Cruz

  • Crime – See our full report on crime in Santa Cruz, and why it is a consideration for living here.

Population & Growth

Population

64,273

1 Year Growth

-0.1%

5 Year Growth

2.3%

Who is Living in Santa Cruz, California? Demographics

The city is filled with many young adults in their 20s and early 30s. The median age in the city is about 29 years old. The typical family has on average 2.9 people including children and parents. In terms of diversity, on a national level, Santa Cruz ranks number 2149 which is above the national average for diversity and on a state level ranks 132 which is above the state average.

 

 

Median Age:

28.7

Average Family Size:

2.93

People in Poverty %:

10.7%

Data sources: American Community Survey and the US Census.

A city’s demographics are important for a variety of reasons. From a business standpoint, knowing the age, income, and education level of a city’s residents can help companies to decide where to locate their businesses. It can also give them insight into what type of products or services will be in demand. For government officials, demographics can play a role in everything from budgeting to planning new infrastructure projects. And for individuals, it can be helpful to know the demographics of a city before moving there, as it can give you a sense of what to expect in terms of your neighbors and the overall atmosphere of the community.

Of course, demographics can also have some drawbacks. If a city’s residents are largely of one age group or income level, it can create challenges in providing adequate services and amenities. And if a city’s demographics change rapidly, it can be difficult for residents to keep up with the changing needs of the community. Nevertheless, knowing the demographics of a city is important for both individuals and businesses alike.

Population of Male and Female Residents

Male
48.5%
Female
51.5%

How Does Gender Imbalance Impact a City?

Gender imbalance is important when evaluating a city because it impacts many social aspects. So, what kind of impact on a city does gender imbalance have? According to many studies, there is no one exact answer to this question as it depends on the city and its specific situation. However, generally speaking, a city with a more balanced male-female population would be considered more stable and prosperous.

Studies about gender imbalances have shown that when there are too many or too few men in a population, it can lead to increased crime rates and other social problems. For example, in societies with a large gender imbalance, young men may be more likely to engage in criminal activity in order to prove their masculinity. Conversely, in societies with too many women, they may be at a disadvantage when competing for jobs and other resources.

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