Santa Cruz County, CA

County in California, West · ranked on 55 metrics

Rank among US counties

Santa Cruz County, CA is a county in California with a population of 256,287 (288th of 3,094). It ranks best for Adults with Obesity (%) (tied 82nd of 2,916), Median Household Income (91st of 3,093), Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (139th of 3,094). It ranks lowest for Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (3,080th of 3,092), Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 2,923rd of 3,094), Average Commute (Minutes) (1,911th of 3,094).

Population
256.3K
288th highest of 3,094
Density
575.9
254th highest of 3,094
Growth since 2020
-5.69%
2,900th highest of 3,094
Area
445
2,251st highest of 3,094
Region
West
California

At a glance

Median household income
$111,093
91st highest of 3,093
Median home value
$1.03M
13th highest of 3,092
Median rent
$2,264
12th highest of 3,090
Unemployment
6.3%
161st highest of 3,094
Poverty rate
11.6%
1,940th highest of 3,094
College degree
43.9%
186th highest of 3,094
Adult obesity
26.8%
2,832nd highest of 2,916
No health insurance
9.2%
1,901st highest of 2,916
Average commute
26 minutes
1,184th highest of 3,094
Home broadband
94.2%
139th highest of 3,094
Climate
57.5°F average
50°F in January, 65°F in July
2024 presidential vote
Democratic +54.4
20.9% Republican, 75.3% Democratic

Strengths and weak spotsPercentileWhere a place sits among all places, from 0 to 100. 100 is the best, 50 is the middle, 0 is the worst.More in the glossary →

Percentile on 22 metrics that rank at least half of all US counties, given whether higher or lower is better.

Totals that track populationCounts like “number of burglaries” that mostly reflect how many people live somewhere, so big places rank high or low regardless.More in the glossary →

Best at

Highest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Adults with Obesity (%)26.8%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 82nd of 2,916
  2. Median Household Income$111,093
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    91st of 3,093
  3. Homes with Broadband Internet (%)94.2%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    139th of 3,094
  4. Median Income$111,093
    Poorest Counties
    91st of 2,000
  5. Adults Who Smoke (%)10.7%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 134th of 2,916
  6. Cooling Degree Days per Year217
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    tied 177th of 3,050
  7. Bachelor’s Degree or Higher (% of Adults 25+)43.9%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    186th of 3,094
  8. Adults with No Leisure-Time Exercise (%)20.4%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 276th of 2,916
  9. Adults with Diabetes (%)9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 420th of 2,916
  10. Heating Degree Days per Year2,937
    Climate by County (1991–2020 Averages)
    688th of 3,050

Worst at

Lowest percentiles, given whether higher or lower is better

  1. Median Rent (Monthly, Capped at $3,501)$2,264
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    3,079th of 3,090
  2. Median Home Value (Capped at $2M)$1.03M
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    3,080th of 3,092
  3. Unemployment Rate (%)6.3%
    Unemployment Rate by County (BLS) · 2025
    tied 2,923rd of 3,094
  4. Adults with a Yearly Checkup (%)69.3%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,692nd of 2,916
  5. Adults Who Binge Drink (%)18.9%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 2,019th of 2,916
  6. Average Commute (Minutes)25.7
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    1,911th of 3,094
  7. Adults in Fair or Poor Health (%)19.3%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,296th of 2,916
  8. Adults with Depression (%)23.3%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 1,248th of 2,916
  9. Poverty Rate (%)11.6%
    Housing, Income and Commutes by County (Census) · 2024
    1,155th of 3,094
  10. Adults 18–64 Without Health Insurance (%)9.2%
    Health of Adults by County (CDC PLACES) · 2023
    tied 977th of 2,916

Profile by category

Average percentile per category, from the median line. Select a category to list its metrics.

Strongest category Health (67), weakest Economics (54). Select a category to list its metrics.

Notable facts

Where it ranks first or last among US counties

Never first or last on a widely ranked metric.

Where it is

Shaded by population; select a place to open it

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Similar places

Closest percentiles on 23 widely reported measures from 7 categories, leaving out size and totals

  1. Monterey County, CA86% similar
    Compared on 20 of 23
  2. Sonoma County, CA84% similar
    Compared on 17 of 23
  3. Marin County, CA83% similar
    Compared on 18 of 23
  4. Napa County, CA82% similar
    Compared on 19 of 23
  5. Clackamas County, OR81% similar
    Compared on 18 of 23

Quick answers

What is the population of Santa Cruz County, CA?
Santa Cruz County, CA has a population of 256,287, 288th among 3,094 US counties.
What does Santa Cruz County, CA rank best at?
Among US counties, Santa Cruz County, CA ranks best for Adults with Obesity (%) (tied 82nd of 2,916); Median Household Income (91st of 3,093); Homes with Broadband Internet (%) (139th of 3,094).
Where does Santa Cruz County, CA rank worst?
Santa Cruz County, CA ranks lowest for Median Home Value (Capped at $2M) (3,080th of 3,092); Unemployment Rate (%) (tied 2,923rd of 3,094); Average Commute (Minutes) (1,911th of 3,094).
How many statistics does Rankodex have for Santa Cruz County, CA?
Rankodex ranks Santa Cruz County, CA on 55 statistics compared with other US counties, compiled from World Population Review and the sources it cites.

Every metric

55 metrics with a value for this place, in 17 topics