Santa Cruz County, California Income Statistics
Santa Cruz County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Santa Cruz County Around averageWealthier than 79% of counties in California
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Santa Cruz County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $111,078 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $80,255 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.0% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 20.4% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 25.0% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Santa Cruz County is about 12% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in Santa Cruz County (6.0%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 20% of adults in Santa Cruz County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Santa Cruz County, California grew by 73.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $111,078 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Santa Cruz County
| Metric | Santa Cruz County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.562 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $91,772 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $75,945 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.2% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Santa Cruz County, it is 0.562, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 21% more than women's income in Santa Cruz County, California. Over a 35-year career, a 21% wage gap accumulates to roughly $553,945 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Santa Cruz County, California has narrowed from about 24% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,262 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Santa Cruz County | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.3% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 20 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 8,534 people are unemployed in Santa Cruz County, California.
The average commute time in Santa Cruz County is 20 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Santa Cruz County, California has fallen from 8.4% to 6.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 5.6% in 2023.
Santa Cruz County, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Santa Cruz County, CA is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 264,809 residents against a local median of 1,163,035. The measure that sets Santa Cruz County, CA apart most is median household income: $111,078, 21% below the local median of $140,554. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread $38,535 on median household income, so Santa Cruz County, CA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Santa Cruz County, CA has the 6th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 264,809 | $111,078 #6/6 | 6.0%/yr #4/6 | 6.1% #5/6 | 0.562 #6/6 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 1,901,257 | $165,940 | 6.3%/yr | 4.9% | 0.536 |
| San Mateo County, CA | 733,246 | $159,405 | 6.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.520 |
| Alameda County, CA | 1,648,382 | $129,593 | 6.2%/yr | 5.4% | 0.542 |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 1,163,035 | $127,405 | 5.4%/yr | 6.5% | 0.546 |
| San Francisco County, CA | 829,818 | $140,554 | 6.0%/yr | 6.1% | 0.505 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Santa Cruz County, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than California, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Santa Cruz County, California.
How Rich Is Santa Cruz County, California?
Santa Cruz County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $111,078, about 12% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in Santa Cruz County, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Santa Cruz County, California rose 73%, from $64,221 to $111,078. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +73% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Santa Cruz County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Santa Cruz County, California was $108,674, up 4% from $104,680 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Santa Cruz County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Santa Cruz County, California was $91,784. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $111,078.
What is the Gini coefficient in Santa Cruz County, California?
The Gini coefficient in Santa Cruz County is 0.562. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Santa Cruz County, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Santa Cruz County, California has narrowed from about 24% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 14% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,262 since 2009.
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