Santa Cruz County, California
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 22,789
People
Population
Population estimates, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 258,852
Population estimates, July 1, 2024, (V2024) 262,406
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2025) 272,163
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2024) 272,140
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2025, (V2025) -4.9%
Population, percent change - April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2024, (V2024) -3.6%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020 270,861
Population, Census, April 1, 2010 262,382
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent 4.2%
Persons under 18 years, percent 17.6%
Persons 65 years and over, percent 20.3%
Female persons, percent 50.3%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent 85.9%
Black alone, percent(a) 1.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) 2.0%
Asian alone, percent(a) 5.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) 0.2%
Two or More Races, percent 4.6%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) 35.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent 54.5%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2020-2024 8,035
Foreign-born persons, percent, 2020-2024 18.0%
Housing
Housing Units, July 1, 2025, (V2025) 108,592
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2020-2024 59.9%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2020-2024 $1,027,500
Median selected monthly owner costs - with a mortgage, 2020-2024 $3,524
Median selected monthly owner costs - without a mortage, 2020-2024 $956
Median gross rent, 2020-2024 $2,264
Building Permits, 2025 470
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2020-2024 96,898
Persons per household, 2020-2024 2.58
Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+ , 2020-2024 86.2%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2020-2024 33.6%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2020-2024 97.1%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2020-2024 94.2%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 88.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2020-2024 43.9%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2020-2024 7.6%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 6.7%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 62.8%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2020-2024 59.0%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 1,008,369
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 2,707,154
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 329,965
Total retail sales, 2022 ($1,000)(c) 4,216,421
Total retail sales per capita, 2022(c) $15,957
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2020-2024 25.7
Income & Poverty
Median households income (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $111,093
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2024 dollars), 2020-2024 $56,941
Persons in poverty, percent 11.9%
Businesses
Businesses
Total employer establishments, 2023 7,136
Total employment, 2023 80,209
Total annual payroll, 2023 ($1,000) 4,955,129
Total employment, percent change, 2022-2023 2.0%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2023 22,789
All employer firms, Reference year 2023 5,974
Male-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 3,330
Female-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 1,297
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 3,865
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 S
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2023 5,209
Geography
Geography
Population per square mile, 2020 608.5
Population per square mile, 2010 589.4
Land area in square miles, 2020 445.11
Land area in square miles, 2010 445.17
FIPS Code 06087