$1,770,546Average Value$1,360Average Price per Sq Ft9Homes For Sale
Coastal living in the heart of Santa Cruz
A weekend afternoon in Lighthouse-The Circles might look like laying on a sandy beach followed by a twilight walk along rocky, oceanfront bluffs overlooking Monterey Bay. In the distance, residents and visitors can take in the bright-lit Santa Cruz Boardwalk against a backdrop of misty, forested mountains. Coastal living has always been the appeal of this historic Santa Cruz community, says Realtor Michele Replogle of Compass Real Estate, a lifelong Santa Cruz resident: “The people that live here want to be close to the water. It’s a big destination for surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking and biking."
The neighborhood is split into two distinct sections: The Circles and the Lighthouse district. Located about five blocks from the beach, The Circles traces its origins to the 1890s when the State Association of Christian Churches decided to hold its annual convention in Santa Cruz. In preparation for the festivities, the organization set up cottages and tents on circular streets surrounding a central tabernacle. The street layout stuck, and today, it’s a vibrant community full of eclectic old homes. “The lots and homes are smaller here, so you have a tighter community. You have to be congenial because people are living right next to you,” Replogle says.
The Lighthouse district is just south of The Circles along the oceanfront. It borders Lighthouse Field State Beach, one of the few remaining urban, coastal parks in California. Its homes are typically larger and newer than those in The Circles.
Westcliff Drive is a perfect place to exercise or enjoy the beach.
There is also a surfer museum at Lighthouse Neighborhood Park.
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Beaches, state parks and a world-famous surf break
West Cliff Drive is where residents walk on wide paths that hug the edge of the neighborhood’s seaside bluffs. Popular with locals and tourists, it’s an ideal place to watch the morning mist give way to a sunny day on the surf. It's also home to Lighthouse Field State Beach, a grassy open space on the bluffs. The park is home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, an historic landmark housed in a former lighthouse that overlooks Steamer Lane, a world-famous surf spot. Along some parts of West Cliff Drive, the cliffs dip down to reveal rocky, sandy beaches often dotted with colorful umbrellas and tents.
Further inland, cozy community parks like Garfield Park and Sergeant Derby Park offer playgrounds, picnic areas and wide-open fields. Bethany Curve is a four-block greenway trail in the Lighthouse district that provides pedestrian access to the oceanfront. A section of the Santa Cruz Rail Trail cuts across the northern edge of the neighborhood, providing people a scenic way to get around the city on foot.
The Surfer Museum is located on Westcliff Drive in the Santa Cruz Area.
There is a local going in to Derby Park.
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Walk to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Residents are walking and biking distance from some of the city’s best-known attractions. About a mile east is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a century-old amusement park with games, rollercoasters, rides and a classic arcade. Right next door is the Santa Cruz Wharf, a wooden pier with restaurants, gift shops and tiki lounge with a circular, revolving bar. At more than 2,700 feet, it's the longest pier on the west coast. West of the neighborhood is a revitalized industrial area where old warehouses have been converted into cafes, breweries, wineries and restaurants. The closest grocery stores are Safeway and New Leaf Community Markets.
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is a great place to take your family.
Safeway is a great place to get some groceries in the Santa Cruz area.
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Eclectic homes by the bay
Homes in The Circles were primarily built in the early 1900s on small lots. Beach bungalows, cottages and Craftsman homes with wood-shingled siding are common home types in the neighborhood. Along West Cliff Drive, there are large, luxury homes in addition to older, midcentury style designs. Lush, tropical landscaping is the norm, with palm trees dotting the horizon and colorful flowers lining the sidewalks. Homes in the Circles typically list for between $800,000 and $2 million, while Lighthouse district homes list for between $1.5 million and $3.5 million.
Craftsman homes are popular in the Santa Cruz area.
There are a lot of modern homes in the Santa Cruz area.
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Solidly rated schools in the Santa Cruz school district
Young learners attend Bay View Elementary School, which earns a B-minus rating from Niche. The school places a strong emphasis on visual arts, music and environmental education both inside and outside the classroom. Students move on to Mission Hill Middle School and Santa Cruz High School, both of which earn A ratings.
Santa Cruz High School prepares students for bright futures.
Bay View Elementary has the best classes in the Santa Cruz area.
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There are many buses that run around the Santa Cruz area.
Getting around Santa Cruz and beyond
Lighthouse-The Circles is bordered at its northern edge by State Route 1, a commuter corridor that connects to coastal destinations like Half Moon Bay and Capitola. It also offers a connection to State Route 17 which twists and turns through the Santa Cruz Mountains on the way to Silicon Valley. For those who prefer public transit, there are several bus lines that traverse the neighborhood. Bike lanes make for a safe, easy ride throughout the area.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Sandra Darrow,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Garfield Park
Derby Park
Lighthouse Neighborhood Park
Transit
Airport
Norman Y Mineta San Jose International
49 min drive
Bus
Delaware Ave & Woodrow Ave
Bus
Delaware Ave & Liberty
Bus
Bay & National
Bus
Delaware Ave & Fair Ave
Bus
Bay & California
Bus
Delaware Ave & Centennial
Bus
Delaware Ave & National
Lighthouse-The Circles Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lighthouse-The Circles, Santa Cruz sell after 31 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Lighthouse-The Circles, Santa Cruz over the last 12 months is $1,550,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Tucked on a quiet circle in one of Santa Cruz's most sought-after neighborhoods, 342 Wilkes Circle is full of charm and warmth. The bright and cheery floor plan offers comfortable living spaces, a cozy kitchen, and inviting bedrooms that make it easy to settle right in. With plenty of natural light and a touch of that classic Santa Cruz funk, this home has personality you'll fall in love with
Welcome to 338 Dufour Street, a stylishly updated single level home in the heart of Santa Cruzs coveted West Side. Just minutes from the Monterey Bay shoreline, this location offers easy access to world class surf, Natural Bridges State Park, Lighthouse Field, and Its Beach. This light filled 2 bedroom, 1 bath home offers 841 sq ft of thoughtfully refreshed living space. Recent upgrades include a
New co-ownership opportunity: Own one-eighth of this professionally managed, turnkey home by Pacaso. Fresh and modern, this home and ADU are located just three houses from West Cliff Drive and the coastline. Contemporary design elements include polished concrete floors, metal-framed windows, and open-concept living spaces. The light-filled great room features a sliding window wall that opens
Panoramic ocean views and world-class design meet in this front-row West Cliff Drive masterpiece by Marmol Radziner, the acclaimed architectural firm celebrated in Architectural Digest's AD100. Designed with a reverse floor plan to capture sweeping horizons, the home features floor-to-ceiling windows and multi-slide glass doors. Imagine watching whales glide by, sipping cocktails on your deck
Location, Location, Location! This beautifully maintained 2BR/2BA home with bonus room is located in the highly desirable Circles neighborhood of Santa Cruz. Offering 998 SF of bright, airy living space, this home features tons of natural light with skylights throughout, double pane windows, high ceilings, and fresh interior paint. The kitchen boasts stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar,
LIVE STEPS FROM THE SAND! Discover a restful retreat at Oceanview Apartments, a peaceful beach-side Community located just moments from everything that Santa Cruz has to offer. Oceanview offers beautifully remodeled one and two bedroom apartment homes and is conveniently situated near scenic Santa Cruz beaches, famous surf spot, Steamer Lane, and is adjacent to the beautiful Lighthouse
Live the Santa Cruz dream. Greet every new day with an unobstructed view of the Monterey Bay. Located on West Cliff Drive, this stunning, contemporary home has a primary suite, media room, work-out room, home office, half bath and laundry, all radiating from a stylish entryway on the ground floor. Upstairs, bathed in light from abundant windows and skylights, is an airy living room and dining
Sweet, spacious and almost BRAND NEW studio in perfect Santa Cruz location - steps to the water. $2800 per month.This is a step or three up from the usual rental units available in Santa Cruz and definitely worth checking out. It's a superbly appointed and very well-designed studio, part of a beautiful development that fronts to a quiet park in the best part of the West Side and is only
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Sandra Darrow,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
7,551
Median Age
44
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
16.8%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
24.3%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$121,558
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$148,824
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.2%
College Graduates
58.3%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
26.3%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
62%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
30''
Average Winter Low Temperature
41°F
Average Summer High Temperature
75°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
91/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
68/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
30/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
