Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz Real Estate and Local Guide
Santa Cruz is a coastal city on northern Monterey Bay known for its beaches, surfing culture, and the University of California campus in the redwood hills above town. Ranked Realty pairs verified local data with the agents who know Santa Cruz best.
About the area
Living in Santa Cruz, CA
Home to the University of California, Santa Cruz.
The housing market
Homes in Santa Cruz
- About 48% of housing units are owner-occupied, reflecting a large renter population in this university town.
- About 55% of housing units are single-family homes.
- The median home value is about $1,180,100.
Landmarks and lifestyle
What makes Santa Cruz home
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
California's oldest surviving amusement park, opened in 1907
Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf
Historic pier on Monterey Bay with restaurants and sea-lion viewing
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
Surfing museum in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse above Steamer Lane
Natural Bridges State Beach
State beach with a natural rock arch and a monarch butterfly grove
DeLaveaga Park
Large city park with a disc golf course and hiking trails
Neighborhoods
Santa Cruz areas to know
Downtown
Central commercial district along Pacific Avenue
Seabright
Coastal neighborhood near the harbor and Seabright State Beach
Westside
Area west of the San Lorenzo River
Eastside
Area east of the San Lorenzo River toward Soquel and Capitola
Beach Flats
Residential neighborhood next to the Boardwalk
For agents
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Local facts on this page are verified against public sources as part of the AppWT local-data project. Data reflects the most recent available figures.