Census ACS · #190 MSA
Santa Cruz Metro Area
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Ca Metropolitan Statistical Area has 266,021 residents. The median household income is $109,266 and the median home value is $1,015,200.
266,021
Population
598
People / sq mi
$109,266
Median Income
$1,015,200
Median Home Value
The Santa Cruz CBSA covers 445 sq mi of land at 597.7 people per square mile.
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 62.8% |
| Black or African American | 1.0% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.0% |
Economy & Income
$109,266
Median Household Income
$55,717
Per Capita Income
5.8%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment
Cost of Living
The Santa Cruz metro's price level is 109.9 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 9.9% higher the US average. The local median income of $109,266 has the buying power of $99,427 in average-priced US metros.
109.9
Price Level (US = 100)
$99,427
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$109,266
Nominal Median Income
Housing
$1,015,200
Median Home Value
$2,172
Median Rent
60.0%
Homeownership
Education
88.5%
High School+
43.6%
Bachelor's+
Commute
1.9%
Drive Alone
17.6%
Work From Home
26.6 min
Avg Commute
19.5%
Foreign Born
Santa Cruz spans this state
Nearby metros
Largest cities in California
Largest counties in California
Part of California
Other metros
Metro areas in California
Metro rankings
Frequently Asked Questions
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Ca Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of 266,021 according to Census ACS 5-Year estimates, making it the #190 largest CBSA in the US.
The median household income in the Santa Cruz metro area is $109,266, with a per capita income of $55,717.
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Ca CBSA spans the state of California.
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More from California
Data for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Ca CBSA (42100) from the American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Core-Based Statistical Areas combine cities, suburbs, and surrounding counties tied together by commuting patterns.
In Santa Cruz, home values do the distinguishing — a median of $1,015,200. Santa Cruz is a metro area in CA with a population of 266,021.
Earnings sit at the high end: a median household income of $109,266, above the US median of $78,538. Only 5.8% of residents live in poverty, below the national 12.4%. Housing is expensive: the median home is worth $1,015,200, with typical rent around $2,172.
Degree attainment is near the top of the range for US metro areas: 43.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s, above the 35.0% national rate.
High housing values reframe the income picture in Santa Cruz — even solid earnings stretch less against home prices and rents at this level.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.