Santa Cruz is a small town with a big name. One of California’s most popular tourist destinations, it's home to beaches, boats, boardwalks and the state’s oldest amusement park. During the day, seagulls carve across the sky above beach volleyball players, surfers and bathing suit-clad vacationers. In the late afternoon, flashing lights from rollercoaster rides are imprinted against misty, burnt orange sunsets.
The city is located about 30 miles south of San Jose where the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Range Mountains meet the Pacific shoreline. Outdoor recreation is a major draw, as are its warm summers, mild winters and its 300 sunny days per year. Hospitality and tourism are the city’s biggest industries, but tech companies and startups have found a home here as well.
“It’s a much more relaxed lifestyle than over the hill. It’s a slower pace. It’s driving 25 miles an hour. We get a lot of tech workers who move here to get away from the fast pace of Silicon Valley,” says Realtor Katie Keeler of Exp Realty, who has lived in Santa Cruz for 26 years.
The Santa Cruz Main Beach Volleyball Area is popular among the lovers of the game near Carbonera
The Western Drive neighborhood is a quiet place to live in western Santa Cruz.
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The oldest seaside amusement park in California
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a city landmark. Established in 1907, this seaside park is the oldest in California. People flock there by the thousands for rides, rollercoasters, games and boardwalk snacks. The Giant Dipper, a wooden rollercoaster, is visible from across the city’s coastline. The amusement park was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Next door is the Santa Cruz Wharf, which was the longest pier on the West Coast until a storm tragically damaged it in 2024. Repairs are underway, however. “The community really came together to help clean up and raise money for the wharf. We’re known as a tourist town, but the sense of community here is unparalleled. People really love this town and their neighbors,” Keeler says.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk sits at the edge of Beach Hill-Beach Flats.
The famous local amusement park draws crowds to the Beach Hill-Beach Flats area.
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Cliffside overlooks, coastal scenery and towering redwoods
West Cliff Drive is one of the city’s most scenic drives. The road and its sidewalks run along the edge of craggy cliffs that overlook the beaches, the wharf and the amusement park. Santa Cruz is known as the surf mecca of Northern California, and visitors are likely to see surfers in wetsuits bobbing in the waves in the mornings and afternoons. Marinas at the Santa Cruz Harbor offer a perfect launch point for nautical adventures. Just beyond the city limits are sprawling regional and state parks where hikers can see some of the oldest redwoods in the Bay Area, and, if they’re lucky, a bright yellow banana slug. “Within 20 minutes, you can be in redwood forests that people come from all over the world to see, but you’re also just minutes away from the Bay. The diversity of recreation here is absolutely phenomenal,” Keeler says.
Westcliff Drive is a perfect place to exercise or enjoy the beach.
The Santa Cruz Wharf is a popular place to go to in the Santa Cruz area.
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Downtown Santa Cruz dining, shops and restaurants
Downtown Santa Cruz is a mixing bowl of boutique shops, local businesses, museums and restaurants situated on wide, walkable streets. The district is a perennial gathering place for Santa Cruz locals, college students and tourists. On the weekends, the streets come alive with local markets, and sun-burned beach-goers stream into restaurants and bars. Late night dives like Asti, The Blue Lagoon and Rush Inn are popular with younger crowds and college students. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History offers a massive collection of artworks and historic artifacts in addition to hosting public festivals and celebrations held throughout the year.
The Town Clock in Downtown Santa Cruz stands as a timeless neighborhood landmark.
Santa Cruz's downtown district is eminently walkable, with wide sidewalks near Carbonera.
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Old neighborhoods with restored homes
The median home price in Santa Cruz is $1.5 million, and homes typically spend around a month on the market before selling. Views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz Mountains are found in neighborhoods throughout the city. Those closest to the waterfront are Seabright, Lighthouse and The Circles, while other at the city’s northern edge back up to steep hills and mountains. Flood and fire insurance rates are high, however. Much of the housing stock is older, dating back to the early and mid-20th century, but most have been updated and renovated. Beach bungalows, eclectic Craftsman homes and even some ornate Victorian architecture can be found here.
Santa Cruz features a wide variety of homes from brand new subdivisions in the mountains to historic homes on the beach.
Carbonera is a small, residential community perched in the hilly outskirts of Santa Cruz.
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Highly rated schools
Students start their education in the Santa Cruz City Elementary School District, which gets a B-plus rating from Niche. They move on to middle and high schools in A-rated Santa Cruz City High School District. The city is home to the University of California, Santa Cruz, which enrolls around 19,000 students every semester. “The university is up in the hills, surrounded by redwoods, with panoramic views of the city and the ocean. A lot of students graduate and stick around because they love it here,” says Realtor Mike Croghan of Shaffer & Associates, a longtime resident.
Santa Cruz High School fosters academic excellence.
Gault Elementary School it's a wonderful place for new students in the Santa Cruz area.
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Higher-than-average crime rates
Violent and property crime rates are elevated in Santa Cruz compared to state and national averages, according to FBI stats. The crime rate has ticked upwards slightly over the last decade.
Getting around Santa Cruz
Residents of Santa Cruz take State Route 17 over the mountains to get to San Jose and Silicon Valley. State Route 1 cruises up and down the Pacific Coast to destinations like Half Moon Bay, Capitola and Aptos. For those who prefer public transit, Santa Cruz Metro provides bus service throughout the city. The nearest airport is San Jose Mineta International Airport, about 40 miles away.
On average, homes in Santa Cruz, CA sell after 61 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Santa Cruz, CA over the last 12 months is $1,800,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Helping dreams come true is my favorite part of this career. When it's time to roll up my sleeves, negotiate on behalf of my clients, make deals happen seamlessly and seemingly effortlessly-I'm on it. It's a balancing act of juggling many balls and wearing many hats but I take the burden off of my clients at every opportunity. Whether it's hoping to sell your property quickly at the best price or finding your new home, I'm ready and willing to do whatever it takes.
Teresa is currently the Director of Membership for Women's Council of Realtors Santa Cruz Network
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
