Banning, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Banning
63.9
#1728 nationally
Santa Cruz
60.5
#1932 nationally
Santa Cruz leads in walk score (63 vs 29). Santa Cruz leads in median household income ($105,491 vs $54,083). Banning leads in cost of living index (118 vs 205).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Banning, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.9 (#1728) | 60.5 (#1932) |
| Population | 31,680 | 61,501 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $411,599 | $1,360,355 |
| Median Household Income | $54,083 | $105,491 |
| Average Commute | 28 min | 22.2 min |
| Walk Score | 29 | 63 |
| Crime Level | 12.8 | 16.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+1.3 | D+54.4 |
D
63.9 Score
Banning, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$411,599
Population
31,680
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
29
Pacific
View Banning, CA →
D-
60.5 Score
Santa Cruz, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,360,355
Population
61,501
Crime
High
Walk Score
63
Pacific
View Santa Cruz, CA →