Moving to Santa Cruz-Watsonville
What you need to know before relocating to Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California. Data-driven insights on housing, jobs, safety, and quality of life.
Is Santa Cruz-Watsonville a Good Place to Live?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville presents a mixed picture. Prospective residents should weigh the tradeoffs carefully. Key considerations: rent ($2,055/mo) is above the national average; home prices ($1,011,300) are above the us median.
Santa Cruz-Watsonville at a Glance
Cost of Living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
The median rent in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is $2,055/month, while the median home value is $1,011,300. With a median household income of $105,631, residents spend roughly 23% of monthly income on rent.
Overall, the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area is classified as very expensive compared to other US metros.
Job Market
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a median household income of $105,631, which is 42% above the national median. The local unemployment rate is 5.5%, compared to the national average of 3.7%.
Safety in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
The violent crime rate in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is 508 per 100,000 residents, which is 34% above the national average of 380.
Property crime rate: 2326 per 100,000 residents.
Education in California
California has a high school graduation rate of 85% and per-pupil spending of $18,020/year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22:1.
39% of California adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Healthcare Access
California has 285 physicians per 100,000 residents, a 5.9% uninsured rate, and 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Life expectancy in California is 79.0 years.
Pros and Cons of Living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville
+Pros
- ✓Median household income ($105,631) exceeds the national median
- ✓Low uninsured rate (5.9%) and good healthcare access
-Cons
- ✗Rent ($2,055/mo) is above the national average
- ✗Home prices ($1,011,300) are above the US median
- ✗Unemployment rate (5.5%) is above the national average
- ✗Violent crime rate (508/100k) exceeds the national average
- ✗Longer-than-average commute (106755 min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santa Cruz-Watsonville a good place to live?⌄
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has both advantages and drawbacks. Prospective residents should weigh rent ($2,055/mo) is above the national average and home prices ($1,011,300) are above the us median against other lifestyle factors.
What is the cost of living in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?⌄
The median rent in Santa Cruz-Watsonville is $2,055/month and the median home value is $1,011,300. The median household income is $105,631. Overall the metro is considered very expensive.
Is Santa Cruz-Watsonville safe?⌄
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has a violent crime rate of 508 incidents per 100,000 residents. The national average is approximately 380 per 100,000.
What is the job market like in Santa Cruz-Watsonville?⌄
Santa Cruz-Watsonville has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, compared to the national average of 3.7%. The median household income is $105,631.