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Living in
Live Oak.
Live Oak is an unincorporated community in Santa Cruz County, CA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Live Oak
This small community in Sutter County offers the kind of stability that appeals to people ready to put down roots rather than chase novelty. The job market sits at a reasonable 6.3% unemployment, though you should expect your commute to average about 23 minutes, which factors into whether this location works with your specific employment situation. Housing costs are steep, and rent tops $2,414 monthly, so this is genuinely a place for established households rather than first-time homebuyers or early-career folks just starting out.
Live Oak at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.9%
Foreign-Born
15.4%
Broadband Internet
95.5%
of households
Population Growth
+0.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics15.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Live Oak: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Live Oak, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (42.5%), and 21.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.2%
of residents
65 and Older
20.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
26.7%
of households
Married Couples
41.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Live Oak
In Live Oak, rent runs 19% above the CA average, and home values are 38% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
52.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
109.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$6,952
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1978
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.4%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.8 pts above CA average
Unemployment in Live Oak
Unemployment in Santa Cruz County, which includes Live Oak, is 0.8 percentage points higher than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Live Oak: Santa Cruz County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Santa Cruz County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Live Oak Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.9 min avg
How Live Oak residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Live Oak, most residents drive alone to work (63%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 26 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 49 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 47% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, which covers Live Oak, runs 47% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
174.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
690.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Santa Cruz County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Santa Cruz County, which includes Live Oak, the most common type is strong wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Flood | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Flood | $120 |
| 2023 | 16 | High Wind | $70 |
| 2022 | 12 | Strong Wind | $9.5M |
| 2021 | 29 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 21 | Strong Wind | $40,000 |
| 2019 | 50 | Strong Wind | $500 |
| 2018 | 20 | Strong Wind | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
214 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Santa Cruz County, county-wide
Air Quality35 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Santa Cruz County, which includes Live Oak, is typically good — 320 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
35
Good Days
320
per year
Moderate Days
45
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Santa Cruz County, county-wide
Climate75°F summers, 42°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Live Oak has mild summers (avg high 75°F) and mild winters (avg low 42°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
75°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
30.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
6
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
6
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
65
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 41°F | 6.42" |
| Feb | 64°F | 43°F | 6.10" |
| Mar | 67°F | 44°F | 4.31" |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 2.04" |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 0.87" |
| Jun | 74°F | 52°F | 0.24" |
| Jul | 74°F | 54°F | 0.01" |
| Aug | 76°F | 55°F | 0.04" |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 0.10" |
| Oct | 74°F | 50°F | 1.32" |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 3.17" |
| Dec | 62°F | 41°F | 6.01" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Live Oak
Live Oak has 3 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
7.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Dominican Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center of Santa Cruz
Acute Care Hospitals
Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Watsonville Community Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.1 mi away · Watsonville
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Live Oak
Live Oak's student/teacher ratio is 22.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 40.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
40.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Live Oak (within 15 miles)
University of California-Santa Cruz
4.4 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 17,940 students · in-state tuition $16,585 · 79% graduate · median earnings $73,362 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Pinnacles National Park, 56 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Live Oak
Live Oak has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pinnacles National Park (56 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
56 mi awayEugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
58 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
62 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
62 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
63 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
63 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
69 mi awayCities Near Live Oak
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Live Oak?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Live Oak FAQ
Is Live Oak, California affordable?⌄
Live Oak's median rent is $2,421/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $103,674/year. Median home value is $1,015,200.
Is Live Oak, California safe?⌄
Live Oak is policed by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 174 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 690 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Live Oak, California?⌄
Santa Cruz County, which includes Live Oak, has an unemployment rate of 6.3%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Live Oak, California?⌄
The cost of living in Live Oak is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,421/month and median household income is $103,674/year. The median home value is $1,015,200. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Live Oak, California?⌄
The average commute in Live Oak is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from