Best Neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA
Comprehensive data on Santa Cruz, CA including safety, walkability, affordability, and quality of life metrics.
Best Neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA — Key Takeaways
Neighborhood-level ranking data for Santa Cruz, CA is not yet available. Below is a comprehensive overview of Santa Cruz as a whole.
Santa Cruz has a population of 65,011, a median household income of $66,580, an unemployment rate of 6.4%, and a poverty rate of 18.7%. The median home value citywide is $950,000, which is 237% above the national average of $281,900.
Data sourced from the US Census Bureau, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA AirNow, Walk Score, and FEMA. Last updated: March 2026.
Santa Cruz at a Glance
Detailed neighborhood-level data for Santa Cruz is coming soon. In the meantime, here is a comprehensive overview.
Median Home Value
$950,000
Nat'l avg: $281,900
Median Income
$66,580
Nat'l avg: $74,580
Population
65,011
Walk Score
95/100
Violent Crime
6.5 per 1K
Nat'l avg: 3.6 per 1K
Air Quality
AQI 32
Climate Risk
Very High
Unemployment
6.4%
Nat'l avg: 3.7%
Explore Nearby Cities in California
Neighborhoods are ranked using the Kurby Score, a composite quality-of-life index that evaluates six weighted categories based on publicly available data:
- Affordability
- 25% weight
- Walkability & Transit
- 15% weight
- Safety
- 17% weight
- Environment
- 17% weight
- Education
- 13% weight
- Economy
- 13% weight
Each category incorporates multiple data points. For example, Safety uses both violent and property crime rates; Environment considers air quality (AQI), noise levels, climate risk, and flood zone status; Affordability factors in home price-to-income ratio, rent, and electricity costs.
Data Sources: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), EPA AirNow, Walk Score, DOT National Transportation Noise Map, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and EIA Electricity Data. All data is updated on a rolling basis as new government releases become available.
Based on nearby amenities, noise levels, and quality of life factors