Huntington Beach, 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.
Huntington Beach
63.7
#1747 nationally
Santa Cruz
60.5
#1932 nationally
Huntington Beach leads in crime level (5.7 vs 16.8). Santa Cruz leads in average commute (22.2 min vs 29.7 min). Santa Cruz leads in walk score (63 vs 56).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Huntington Beach, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.7 (#1747) | 60.5 (#1932) |
| Population | 192,129 | 61,501 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,367,647 | $1,360,355 |
| Median Household Income | $114,747 | $105,491 |
| Average Commute | 29.7 min | 22.2 min |
| Walk Score | 56 | 63 |
| Crime Level | 5.7 | 16.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 195 | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | D+54.4 |
D
63.7 Score
Huntington Beach, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,367,647
Population
192,129
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
56
Pacific
View Huntington Beach, 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 →
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