County · California

Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County, California. Santa Cruz County had 258,852 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 4.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). It holds 30 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs and 26 census-designated) and 70 census tracts. GEOID 06087.

Santa Cruz County is the county of the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

258,852

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 270,861 · ACS 2020-2024: 264,926

Median household income

$111,093

±$2,734 (90% margin)
California: $99,122

Median home value

$1,027,500

±$15,133 (90% margin)
California: $734,700

Median gross rent

$2,264

±$51 (90% margin)
California: $2,036

How many people live in Santa Cruz County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 270,861 residents in Santa Cruz County. The Census Bureau estimates 258,852 for July 1, 2025, down 4.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 264,926 over 445 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 −10,649 (261,109)
2021→2022 +4,677 (265,786)
2022→2023 −2,464 (263,322)
2023→2024 −1,905 (261,417)
2024→2025 −2,565 (258,852)

Santa Cruz County in California. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Santa Cruz County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	264,926	39,287,377	−9,036
Households	96,898±687	13,548,091	no clear change
Average household size	2.58±0.02	2.84	−0.14
Housing units	106,977±177	14,644,735	+670

Santa Cruz County's population since 2000

From 255,602 in 2000 to 258,852 in 2025: up 1.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 255,602
2005 (estimate) 251,377
2010 Census 262,382
2015 (estimate) 273,495
2020 Census 270,861
2025 (estimate) 258,852

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Santa Cruz County?

Santa Cruz County holds 30 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 26 census-designated places. The largest is Santa Cruz with 61,797 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Santa Cruz County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Santa Cruz	city	62,956	61,607±64	$115,475	$1,209,000	17.0%	100%
Watsonville	city	52,590	51,712±34	$78,393	$686,000	14.7%	100%
Live Oak, Santa Cruz County	CDP	17,038	16,911±1,267	$103,674	$1,015,200	12.9%	100%
Scotts Valley	city	12,224	12,044±46	$143,750	$1,105,700	5.9%	100%
Soquel	CDP	9,980	10,679±1,263	$118,777	$957,300	9.7%	100%
Capitola	city	9,938	9,689±63	$102,976	$783,000	12.9%	100%
Rio del Mar	CDP	9,128	9,201±880	$159,929	$1,338,100	2.3%	100%
Interlaken	CDP	7,368	8,068±1,019	$109,150	$831,000	14.9%	100%
Aptos	CDP	6,664	6,404±829	$134,048	$1,093,300	5.9%	100%
Ben Lomond	CDP	6,337	6,858±1,056	$130,041	$960,700	4.9%	100%
Pleasure Point	CDP	5,821	5,489±619	$119,821	$1,183,600	8.9%	100%
Boulder Creek	CDP	5,429	4,632±668	$84,156	$849,900	7.1%	100%
Twin Lakes (Santa Cruz County)	CDP	4,944	5,073±538	$90,087	$959,100	10.6%	100%
Felton	CDP	4,489	4,093±562	$123,056	$900,500	3.6%	100%
Freedom	CDP	3,835	3,172±601	$93,750	$755,300	7.3%	100%
Day Valley	CDP	3,410	3,579±606	$155,000	$1,279,300	4.1%	100%
Seacliff	CDP	3,280	3,299±487	$130,385	$1,143,600	5.5%	100%
Bonny Doon	CDP	2,868	3,149±462	$144,813	$1,201,900	16.2%	100%
Amesti	CDP	2,637	2,818±406	$108,833	$879,400	13.4%	100%
La Selva Beach	CDP	2,531	2,302±409	$160,833	$1,325,700	9.2%	100%
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley	CDP	2,383	2,127±317	$158,788	$1,185,000	7.9%	100%
Corralitos	CDP	2,342	1,884±606	$171,113	$2,000,000 or more	7.4%	100%
BrookdaleGEOID 0608478	CDP	2,043	1,378±462	$87,358	$881,700	14.0%	100%
LompicoGEOID 0642510	CDP	1,154	788±242	$91,600	$631,600	10.9%	100%
Mount HermonGEOID 0649796	CDP	1,110	939±339	$157,604	$1,003,100	1.1%	100%
PasatiempoGEOID 0656028	CDP	1,093	610±284	$215,469	$1,627,800	1.8%	100%
ZayanteGEOID 0687090	CDP	729	399±141	$182,857	$863,600	1.8%	100%
DavenportGEOID 0618086	CDP	388	403±224	$72,171	$946,400	7.2%	100%
Paradise ParkGEOID 0655604	CDP	367	470±266	$54,500	not published	0.0%	100%
Pajaro DunesGEOID 0655048	CDP	122	143±123	$112,500	$1,750,000	0.0%	100%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Santa Cruz County?

The median resident of Santa Cruz County is 39.8 years old; 18.4% are under 18 and 19.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 53.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 35.2%. 18.0% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Santa Cruz County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	39.8±0.3	37.9	+2.0
Under 18 years	18.4%±0.1 pts	22.0%	–
65 years and over	19.0%±0.1 pts	15.7%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	35.2%	40.2%	+1.6 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	53.9%±0.2 pts	33.8%	−3.4 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.1 pts	5.2%	−0.2 pts
Asian alone, not Hispanic	4.7%±0.2 pts	15.3%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.3%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	4.5%±0.3 pts	4.4%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.7%±0.2 pts	0.6%	–
Born outside the United States	18.0%±0.6 pts	27.0%	no clear change
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	33.6%±0.9 pts	44.4%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	3.7%±0.3 pts	4.3%	–
With a disability	11.5%±0.6 pts	11.6%	–
No health insurance coverage	4.9%±0.4 pts	6.6%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	88.6%±0.7 pts	84.7%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	43.9%±1.0 pts	37.1%	+3.1 pts
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	18.6%±0.8 pts	14.4%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	1.2%±0.2 pts	1.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Santa Cruz County earn?

Half of Santa Cruz County's 96,898 households earn less than $111,093 a year (±$2,734), against $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 the median was $101,205 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $9,888 after inflation. 11.6% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Cruz County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$111,093±$2,734	$99,122	+$9,888
Mean household income	$156,439±$3,506	$140,436	–
Per capita income	$56,941±$1,210	$49,513	+$6,099
People below the poverty line	11.6%±0.8 pts	12.0%	−1.5 pts
Children under 18 below the poverty line	11.9%±2.1 pts	15.0%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	9.9%±0.8 pts	12.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	94.2%±0.7 pts	93.5%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Santa Cruz County?

Owners occupy 59.9% of Santa Cruz County's occupied homes and renters 40.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,027,500 by its owner (±$15,133). The median renter pays $2,264 a month including utilities, and 43.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Cruz County	California	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$1,027,500±$15,133	$734,700	+$96,357
Median gross rent	$2,264±$51	$2,036	+$151
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	43.7%±2.2 pts	46.0%	−6.7 pts
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$3,524±$85	$2,946	–
Owner-occupied homes	59.9%±1.1 pts	55.9%	no clear change
Housing units	106,977±177	14,644,735	+670
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.9%±0.4 pts	0.8%	–
Rental vacancy rate	3.7%±1.0 pts	4.2%	–
Single-family detached homes	63.3%±1.0 pts	57.0%	–
Mobile homes	6.6%±0.5 pts	3.5%	–
Built 2020 or later	0.5%±0.2 pts	1.3%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	11.9%±0.7 pts	8.9%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Santa Cruz County building?

Builders took permits for 470 new housing units across Santa Cruz County in 2025 (163 single-family), 1.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 429 units
2020 244 units
2021 598 units
2022 608 units
2023 540 units
2024 259 units
2025 470 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Santa Cruz County get to work?

62.2% of Santa Cruz County's workers drive alone and 19.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.1%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Santa Cruz County	California	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	62.8%±0.8 pts	63.8%	–
Unemployment rate	6.1%±0.6 pts	6.6%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	62.2%±1.4 pts	65.7%	–
Carpooled	8.1%±0.8 pts	9.5%	–
Public transportation	1.9%±0.4 pts	2.9%	–
Walked	4.2%±0.5 pts	2.4%	–
Worked from home	19.3%±1.1 pts	17.2%	+11.5 pts
Mean travel time to work	25.7 min±0.6	28.7 min	−2.0 min

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Santa Cruz County's census tracts?

Santa Cruz County is divided into 70 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $47,391 (Tract 1103.01) to $182,050 (Tract 1222.05).

All 70 census tracts of Santa Cruz County, with their figures

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Santa Cruz County compare with California's other counties?

Santa Cruz County's rank among California's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	25th of 58
Growth 2020-2025	53rd of 58
Residents per square mile	10th of 58
Median household income	11th of 58
Median home value	6th of 58
Median gross rent	9th of 56
Poverty rate	33rd of 57
Bachelor's degree or higher	9th of 58
Median age	28th of 58

Every county in California

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Santa Cruz County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.