Santa Cruz, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Santa Cruz | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,989 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 3663.6 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.21% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 31.0 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 20,281 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Santa Cruz grew by 13.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 57,497 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Santa Cruz has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | Santa Cruz | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,339 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 8.61% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 6.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Santa Cruz is about 13% higher than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Santa Cruz | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $811,474 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $2,272 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 47.0% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Santa Cruz is about 29.8 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $2,272 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Santa Cruz spend about 33 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 139 hours, about 5.8 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Santa Cruz | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 16.7 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 33.3 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 139 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,303 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 19.3% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 15,490 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,456 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Santa Cruz is 17 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Santa Cruz has a education index of A, which means it is very educated.
| Metric | Santa Cruz | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.3% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.32 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
Santa Cruz has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Santa Cruz | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.9 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 11.2% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 10.5% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Santa Cruz, California.
What is the population of Santa Cruz, California?
The population of Santa Cruz, California is 57,989, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Santa Cruz, California?
The population density of Santa Cruz, California is 3663.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Santa Cruz, California?
The median household income in Santa Cruz, California is $109,339, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Santa Cruz, California?
The median home price in Santa Cruz, California is $811,474, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Santa Cruz, California?
The unemployment rate in Santa Cruz, California is 6.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.