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2024 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County

Best places to live

Best for families
Most diverse
Best to buy a house
Best public schools
Cost of living

Best places to live
Best for families
Best public schools

Most diverse
Best for young professionals
Best for retirees

Economy

Cost of living
Best to buy a house

Health & outdoors

Healthiest
Outdoor activities

Area type

City

City neighborhood

Suburbs

Towns

Public schools grade

A

B

C

D

Cost of living

$

$$

$$$

$$$$

Who lives here

Families

Young professionals

Retirees

Importance of walkability

Not very

Somewhat

Very

Crime and safety grade

A

B

C

D

Homes in the area

Single family homes

Large apartment buildings

Small apartment buildings

Townhomes

Homeownership

Most own

Balanced

Most rent

Politics

Very conservative

Conservative

Balanced

Liberal

Very Liberal

Importance of things to do

Bars

Not very

Somewhat

Very

Restaurants

Not very

Somewhat

Very

Coffee shops

Not very

Somewhat

Very

Parks

Not very

Somewhat

Very

1-25 of 27 results

#1 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Mount Hermon
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 1,254
Mount Hermon
#1 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 1,254,
View nearby homes
#2 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
- Town in California
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 62,714
Santa Cruz
#2 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Town in California. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 62,714,
View nearby homes
#3 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Twin Lakes
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 5,369
Twin Lakes
#3 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 5,369,
View nearby homes
SponsoredCharter School
Aspire Rosa Parks Academy
Public School·
STOCKTON, CA·
K-5
SponsoredPrivate School
Challenger School - Middlefield
Private School·
PALTO ALTO, CA·
PK, K-8
SponsoredPrivate School
Fairmont Preparatory Academy
Private School·
ANAHEIM, CA·
9-12
#4 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Pasatiempo
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 1,104
Pasatiempo
#4 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 1,104,
View nearby homes
#5 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Live Oak
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 16,948
Live Oak
#5 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 16,948,
View nearby homes
#6 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Felton
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 3,467
Felton
#6 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 3,467,
View nearby homes
#7 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Scotts Valley
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 12,317
Scotts Valley
#7 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 12,317,
View nearby homes
#8 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Bonny Doon
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 2,881
Bonny Doon
#8 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 2,881,
View nearby homes
#9 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Aptos
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 6,372
Aptos
#9 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 6,372,
View nearby homes
#10 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Day Valley
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 3,397
Day Valley
#10 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 3,397,
View nearby homes
#11 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
La Selva Beach
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 2,635
La Selva Beach
#11 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 2,635,
View nearby homes
#12 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Rio del Mar
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 9,264
Rio del Mar
#12 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 9,264,
View nearby homes
#13 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Capitola
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 10,041
Capitola
#13 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 10,041,
View nearby homes
#14 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Soquel
- grade B+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 10,806
Soquel
#14 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B+, Population: 10,806,
View nearby homes
#15 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Seacliff
- grade B
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 3,414
Seacliff
#15 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B, Population: 3,414,
View nearby homes
#16 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
Ben Lomond
- grade B
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 7,528
Ben Lomond
#16 Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County. Overall Niche Grade: B, Population: 7,528,
View nearby homes
Boulder Creek
- grade B minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 5,308
Boulder Creek
Overall Niche Grade: B minus, Population: 5,308,
View nearby homes
Corralitos
- grade C
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade B+
  Public Schools
- Population 2,367
Corralitos
Overall Niche Grade: C, Population: 2,367,
View nearby homes
Brookdale
- grade B
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 1,228
Brookdale
Overall Niche Grade: B, Population: 1,228,
View nearby homes
Freedom
- grade C+
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade B
  Public Schools
- Population 3,399
Freedom
Overall Niche Grade: C+, Population: 3,399,
View nearby homes
Amesti
- grade C minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade B minus
  Public Schools
- Population 3,307
Amesti
Overall Niche Grade: C minus, Population: 3,307,
View nearby homes
Interlaken
- grade C minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade C
  Public Schools
- Population 8,079
Interlaken
Overall Niche Grade: C minus, Population: 8,079,
View nearby homes
Review your area
Watsonville
- Town in California
- grade C minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade C
  Public Schools
- Population 52,966
Watsonville
Town in California. Overall Niche Grade: C minus, Population: 52,966,
View nearby homes
Paradise Park
- grade A minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A
  Public Schools
- Population 608
Paradise Park
Overall Niche Grade: A minus, Population: 608,
View nearby homes
Zayante
- grade B minus
  Overall Niche Grade
- grade A minus
  Public Schools
- Population 581
Zayante
Overall Niche Grade: B minus, Population: 581,
View nearby homes
SponsoredCharter School
ISANA Octavia Academy
Public School·
LOS ANGELES, CA·
K-8
SponsoredOnline School
Pivot Charter School - San Diego
Online School·
SAN MARCOS, CA·
K-12
SponsoredCharter School
Propel Montour Elementary School
Public School·
PITTSBURGH, PA·
K-12

About This List

Explore the best places to live in the U.S. based on crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, and local amenities. Ranking based on data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.

1 – 25 of 27

Showing results 1 through 25 of 27

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