Data / Santa Cruz, CA / Profile

Santa Cruz, CA in figures

A profile of Santa Cruz, CA from official statistics: 11 figures in 3 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People

Population in Santa Cruz, CA was 61,797 in 2025, down 1.3% from 2024, and the 145th highest of 376 cities in California.

Population61,7972025Down 1.3% from 2024The 145th highest of 376 cities in California
Median age31.1 years2024Up 0.4 years from 2023Tied for the 29th lowest of 376 cities in California
Foreign-born population share13.1%2024Up 0.2 percentage points from 2023The 48th lowest of 376 cities in California
Bachelor's degree or higher, population 25 and over57.6%2024Down 0.1 percentage points from 2023
54K56K58K60K62K64K66K2020202120222023202420252020: 64,178 persons2021: 55,501 persons2022: 62,981 persons2023: 62,734 persons2024: 62,585 persons2025: 61,797 persons
Population, 2020 to 2025. persons. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for incorporated places, 1 July (Population Estimates Program, subcounty totals).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for incorporated places, 1 July (Population Estimates Program, subcounty totals); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a bachelor's degree or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in Santa Cruz, CA was 5.6% (provisional) in August 2026, down 0.1 percentage points from August 2025, and tied for the 67th highest of 285 cities in California.

Unemployment rate5.6%August 2026, provisionalDown 0.1 percentage points from August 2025Tied for the 67th highest of 285 cities in California
Median household income$115,4752024Up 3.6% from 2023The 124th highest of 376 cities in California
Gini index49.42024Down 1.4 points from 2023The 50th highest of 376 cities in California
234562021-072022-042023-012023-102024-072025-042026-082021-07: 5.9 %2021-08: 5.7 %2021-09: 4.6 %2021-10: 4.2 %2021-11: 3.5 %2021-12: 3 %2022-01: 3.5 %2022-02: 3 %2022-03: 2.6 %2022-04: 2.4 %2022-05: 2.4 %2022-06: 3.5 %2022-07: 3.4 %2022-08: 3.4 %2022-09: 3.2 %2022-10: 3.3 %2022-11: 3.2 %2022-12: 2.8 %2023-01: 3.5 %2023-02: 3.6 %2023-03: 3.4 %2023-04: 3.2 %2023-05: 3.2 %2023-06: 4.4 %2023-07: 4.4 %2023-08: 4.7 %2023-09: 4.5 %2023-10: 4.6 %2023-11: 4.3 %2023-12: 4 %2024-01: 4.3 %2024-02: 4.5 %2024-03: 4.1 %2024-04: 3.7 %2024-05: 3.6 %2024-06: 5.1 %2024-07: 5.2 %2024-08: 5.3 %2024-09: 4.7 %2024-10: 4.7 %2024-11: 4.6 %2024-12: 4 %2025-01: 4.5 %2025-02: 4.3 %2025-03: 4.1 %2025-04: 3.9 %2025-05: 3.8 %2025-06: 5.3 %2025-07: 5.9 %2025-08: 5.7 %2025-09: 5.4 %2025-11: 4.8 %2025-12: 4.3 %2026-01: 4.4 %2026-02: 4.2 %2026-03: 3.9 %2026-04: 3.9 %2026-05: 3.9 %2026-06: 5.1 %2026-07: 5.5 %2026-08: 5.6 %
Unemployment rate, July 2021 to August 2026. %. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03).

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini index of household income inequality (coefficient multiplied by 100), US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Labor market statistics and rankings

Prices and housing

Median home value in Santa Cruz, CA was $1,209,000 in 2024, up 2.4% from 2023, and the 63rd highest of 376 cities in California.

Median home value$1,209,0002024Up 2.4% from 2023The 63rd highest of 376 cities in California
Median gross rent (monthly)$2,4522024Up 6.5% from 2023The 101st highest of 376 cities in California
Homeownership rate (US, housing units)48.4%2024Up 0.7 percentage points from 2023The 75th lowest of 376 cities in California
Housing units authorized by building permits2282025, estimatedUp 322.2% from 2024
900K1M1.1M1.2M1.3M20212022202320242021: 933,000 USD2022: 1,116,100 USD2023: 1,180,100 USD2024: 1,209,000 USD
Median home value, 2021 to 2024. USD. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more); U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. Housing statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. U.S. Census Bureau. Annual estimates of the resident population for incorporated places, 1 July (Population Estimates Program, subcounty totals). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  2. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b01002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  3. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b05002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a bachelor's degree or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics, cities and towns, not seasonally adjusted: unemployment rate (measure 03). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.0.CurrentU25-29. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  6. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19013.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  7. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19083: Gini index of household income inequality (coefficient multiplied by 100), US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19083.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  8. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25077.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  9. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25064.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  10. U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  11. U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized by permit-issuing place, including imputation. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/Place/West%20Region/we2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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