Living in Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County is a county in California with a population of around 273,213, part of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA metro area. The main communities are Capitola, Santa Cruz, Watsonville.

Cost of Living

Median rent is $3,456/month, significantly above the national average, with a median home price of around $1143K. The county has a moderate unemployment rate at 5.7%.

Weather and Climate

The climate brings warm winters (highs around 59°F) and hot summers (highs around 82°F). The coast is within 1 hour. Mountains are less than 1 hour away. Natural hazard risks include earthquake risk, hurricane risk and wildfire risk.

Demographics

Santa Cruz County has relatively young demographics, with a median age of 38 and a moderately educated workforce (41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher). The county votes strongly Democratic.