Santa Cruz city, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Santa Cruz city is a mid-sized community located in California. The total population is 60,953. It ranks as the 152nd most populous out of 1,577 cities and towns in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Santa Cruz city is 30.7 years. This is 18% lower than the state median of 37.6 years. Only 12.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Santa Cruz city is $111,427. This is 16% higher than the state median of $96,334. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 42% higher. The poverty rate stands at 17.6%. This is 47% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.3%. This is 2% lower than the state rate of 6.4%. The median home value is $1,180,100. Housing costs are 70% higher than the state median of $695,400. The home-value-to-income ratio of 10.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 47.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 55.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Santa Cruz city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 59.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 22.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (59.7% vs 34.6%). The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

57.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 58% higher than the state rate of 36.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.1%. Notably, 28.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Santa Cruz city, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,577 Census-designated places in California. For official data, visit data.census.gov.