Soquel, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

Side-by-side comparison from the latest government data.

MetricSoquel, CASanta Cruz, CA
Population10,67961,607
Median Household Income$118,777$115,475
Median Rent$2,266/mo$2,452/mo
Median Home Value$957,300$1,209,000
Cost of Living (US = 100)110110
Renters Paying 30%+ of Income43.8%51.3%
Poverty Rate9.7%17%
Unemployment Rate6.3% (county)4.7%
Violent Crime Rate /100k174*533
Property Crime Rate /100k690*2,529
Median AQI3535
Good AQI Days /yr320320
Summer Highs75°F75°F
Winter Lows42°F42°F
Snowfall0 in/yr0 in/yr
Avg Commute23 min22.8 min
Hospitals——
Avg Hospital Rating——
Students per Teacher21.620.4
College Degree Rate48%57.6%
Foreign-Born %9.6%13.1%
Population Growth (2020–2025)-1.8%-3.8%

Green = clearly better (more than 5% apart). Population, growth, weather, hospital count and foreign-born share aren’t scored.
* Rate of the agency that polices Soquel (the city has no police department of its own), so it isn’t scored.