Santa Cruz, CA

Census Place

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2020 Population

65,011

0.758% 1-year growth

US Senator

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Party

US Senator

Alex Padilla

Democratic Party

2020 Median Age

28.1

2.43% 1-year decrease

2020 Poverty Rate

20.2%

3.58% 1-year decrease

2020 Median Household Income

$86,618

11.2% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$895,800

4.87% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

33,948

2.07% 1-year growth

About

In 2020, Santa Cruz, CA had a population of 65k people with a median age of 28.1 and a median household income of $86,618. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Santa Cruz, CA grew from 64,522 to 65,011, a 0.758% increase and its median household income grew from $77,921 to $86,618, a 11.2% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Santa Cruz, CA are White (Non-Hispanic) (62.1%), White (Hispanic) (10.5%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (10.2%), Other (Hispanic) (6.08%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (4.62%).

None of the households in Santa Cruz, CA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

92.2% of the residents in Santa Cruz, CA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Santa Cruz, CA are University of California-Santa Cruz (5,959 degrees awarded in 2020).

In 2020, the median property value in Santa Cruz, CA was $895,800, and the homeownership rate was 46.3%.

Most people in Santa Cruz, CA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 23 minutes. The average car ownership in Santa Cruz, CA was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Coastline

Photo by fogcat5

Population & Diversity

Santa Cruz, CA is home to a population of 65k people, from which 92.2% are citizens. As of 2020, 13.7% of Santa Cruz, CA residents were born outside of the country (8.93k people).

In 2020, there were 5.9 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (40.3k people) in Santa Cruz, CA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 6.84k White (Hispanic) and 6.64k Asian (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

92.2%

2020 Citizenship

90.8%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 92.2% of Santa Cruz, CA residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Santa Cruz, CA was 90.8%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Santa Cruz, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Santa Cruz, CA

White (Non-Hispanic)
40.3k ± 1.15k
White (Hispanic)
6.84k ± 915
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
6.64k ± 573

20.7%

Hispanic Population

13.5k people

20.7% of the people in Santa Cruz, CA are hispanic (13.5k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Santa Cruz, CA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for California.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
4,008,868 ± 46,586 people
Philippines
829,356 ± 22,122 people
China
683,718 ± 20,124 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of California was Mexico, the natal country of 4,008,868 California residents, followed by Philippines with 829,356 and China with 683,718.

Foreign-Born Population

13.7%

2020 Foreign-Born Population

8.93k people

14.7%

2019 Foreign-Born Population

9.48k people

As of 2020, 13.7% of Santa Cruz, CA residents (8.93k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.5%. In 2019, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Santa Cruz, CA was 14.7%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Santa Cruz, CA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
815 ± 167
Gulf War (2001-)
282 ± 117
Gulf War (1990s)
142 ± 95

Santa Cruz, CA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.89 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Santa Cruz, CA employs 33.9k people. The largest industries in Santa Cruz, CA are Educational Services (7,161 people), Accommodation & Food Services (3,855 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (3,853 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($137,083), Wholesale Trade ($93,618), and Public Administration ($87,317).

Males in California have an average income that is 1.26 times higher than the average income of females, which is $64,427. The income inequality in California (measured using the Gini index) is 0.498, which is higher than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

33.9k

2020 Value

± 1,559

2.07%

1 Year growth

± 6.06%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Santa Cruz, CA grew at a rate of 2.07%, from 33.3k employees to 33.9k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Santa Cruz, CA, are Management Occupations (4,015 people), Sales & Related Occupations (3,424 people), and Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (3,309 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Santa Cruz, CA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in California (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

33.9k

2020 Value

± 1,559

2.07%

1 Year growth

± 6.06%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Santa Cruz, CA grew at a rate of 2.07%, from 33.3k employees to 33.9k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Santa Cruz, CA, are Educational Services (7,161 people), Accommodation & Food Services (3,855 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (3,853 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Santa Cruz, CA, though some of these residents may live in Santa Cruz, CA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$46,191

Median earning men ± $6,235

$28,715

Median earning women ± $4,060

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Wholesale Trade ($102,574), Public Administration ($97,670), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($82,159).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Wholesale Trade ($93,553), Public Administration ($85,800), and Information ($75,898).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in California. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in California.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

In 2020, the top outbound California product (by dollars) was Electronics with $407B, followed by Pharmaceuticals ($158B) and Mixed freight ($149B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound California products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for California.

$2.26T

2020 Value in California

$4.61T

Projected 2050 Value in California

104% growth

In 2020, total outbound California trade was $2.26T. This is expected to increase 104% to $4.61T by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound California trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from California to other states, or from other states to California.

Most Common Trade Partners

Texas
$83.5B
Arizona
$44.4B
Ohio
$43.3B

In 2020, the top outbound California domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Texas with $83.5B, followed by Arizona with $44.4B and Ohio and $43.3B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that California shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla are the senators currently representing the state of California. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

California is currently represented by 53 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Senators Elections

US Senators from California

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Dianne Feinstein

Senator from California

Assumed office on November 10, 1992
Elected to the seat to succeed John Seymour (California politician)|John Seymour, who had been appointed to the seat after Pete Wilson was elected Governor of California.

Alex Padilla

Senator from California

Assumed office on January 20, 2021
Appointed to the seat following the resignation of Kamala Harris, who had become Vice President of the United States.

Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla are the senators currently representing California.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in California over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from California

California is currently represented by 53 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for California have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Santa Cruz, CA awarded 5,959 degrees. The student population of Santa Cruz, CA in 2020 is skewed towards men, with 10,132 male students and 9,029 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Santa Cruz, CA are White (1,930 and 35%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (1,638 and 29.7%), Asian (1,249 and 22.6%), and Two or More Races (444 and 8.05%).

The largest universities in Santa Cruz, CA by number of degrees awarded are University of California-Santa Cruz (5,959 and 100%).

The most popular majors in Santa Cruz, CA are Computer Science (713 and 12%), General Psychology (521 and 8.74%), and Cellular & Molecular Biology (351 and 5.89%).

The median tuition cost in Santa Cruz, CA for a public four year colleges is $11,442 for in-state students and $41,196 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Santa Cruz, CA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 64.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 11.8%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 19,161 (52.9% men and 47.1% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 19,161 students enrolled in Santa Cruz, CA, 52.9% men and 47.1% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 5,958 records, of which 47.2% were women and 52.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Psychology
514 degree-majors awarded
Cellular & Molecular Biology
341 degree-majors awarded
Computer Science
667 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Santa Cruz, CA was General Psychology with 514 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Santa Cruz, CA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

University of California-Santa Cruz

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

5,959 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of California-Santa Cruz with 5,959 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 2,836 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Santa Cruz, CA, which is 0.908 times less than the 3,123 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 1,930 degrees mean that there were 1.18 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 1,638 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($11,442) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($2,583) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,085) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Measure

In 2020, 1.74% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 1.99% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were Some college (7.14M), High School or Equivalent (6.69M), and Bachelors Degree (6.15M).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Santa Cruz, CA was $895,800 in 2020, which is 3.9 times larger than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $854,200 to $895,800, a 4.87% increase. The homeownership rate in Santa Cruz, CA is 46.3%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Santa Cruz, CA have an average commute time of 23 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Santa Cruz, CA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Santa Cruz, CA is $86,618. In 2020, the place with the highest median household income in Santa Cruz, CA was Census Tract 1212 with a value of $154,514, followed by Census Tract 1011 and Census Tract 1006, with respective values of $115,516 and $107,470.

Housing

Property

$895,800

Median Property Value 2020

±$18,067

$10,486

Median Property Taxes

±$746

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Santa Cruz, CA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Santa Cruz, CA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

46.3%

Homeownership

2020

68.4%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 46.3% of the housing units in Santa Cruz, CA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 47%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Santa Cruz, CA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 1212
Census Tract 1011
Census Tract 1006

In 2020, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Santa Cruz, CA was Census Tract 1212 with a value of $154,514, followed by Census Tract 1011 and Census Tract 1006, with respective values of $115,516 and $107,470.

The following map shows all of the places in Santa Cruz, CA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$86,618

Median Household Income

± $6,781

22.6k

Number of Households

± 1,216

In 2020, the median household income of the 22.6k households in Santa Cruz, CA grew to $86,618 from the previous year's value of $77,921.

The following chart displays the households in Santa Cruz, CA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $200k+ range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Santa Cruz, CA is from California.

0.498

2020 Wage GINI in California

0.499

2019 Wage GINI in California

In 2020, the income inequality in California was 0.498 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.321% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for California was higher than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed less evenly in California in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in California across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (58.1%)
Walked (11.8%)
Worked At Home (9.95%)

In 2020, 58.1% of workers in Santa Cruz, CA drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (11.8%) and those who worked at home (9.95%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

23 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Santa Cruz, CA have a shorter commute time (23 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 2.97% of the workforce in Santa Cruz, CA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Santa Cruz, CA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Santa Cruz, CA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Santa Cruz, CA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

20.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Santa Cruz, CA (11.1k out of 55.1k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Males 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Santa Cruz, CA is White, followed by Hispanic and Asian.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

94.3% of the population of Santa Cruz, CA has health coverage, with 50.8% on employee plans, 12.1% on Medicaid, 8.57% on Medicare, 21.9% on non-group plans, and 0.83% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in California was $7,549 in 2014. This is a 4.04% increase from the previous year ($7,256).

Primary care physicians in Santa Cruz County, CA see 987 patients per year on average, which represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year (1000 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1225 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 124 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for California. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in California, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Santa Cruz County, CA.

987 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Santa Cruz County, CA

Primary care physicians in Santa Cruz County, CA see an average of 987 patients per year. This represents a 1.3% decrease from the previous year (1,000 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Santa Cruz County, CA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for California.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of California across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 18.3% under 18 years, 39.2% between 18 and 34 years, 30% between 35 and 64 years, and 12.5% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 48.3% were men and 51.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

5.74%

Uninsured

50.8%

Employer Coverage

12.1%

Medicaid

8.57%

Medicare

21.9%

Non-Group

0.83%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Santa Cruz, CA declined by 27.1% from 7.87% to 5.74%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Santa Cruz, CA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.