Palo Alto, 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.
Palo Alto
67.4
#1429 nationally
Santa Cruz
60.5
#1932 nationally
Palo Alto leads in crime level (5.8 vs 16.8). Palo Alto leads in median household income ($214,118 vs $105,491). Santa Cruz leads in average commute (22.2 min vs 23.9 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Palo Alto, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.4 (#1429) | 60.5 (#1932) |
| Population | 65,882 | 61,501 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $3,599,324 | $1,360,355 |
| Median Household Income | $214,118 | $105,491 |
| Average Commute | 23.9 min | 22.2 min |
| Walk Score | 61 | 63 |
| Crime Level | 5.8 | 16.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | N/A | 205 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+54.4 |
D+
67.4 Score
Palo Alto, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$3,599,324
Population
65,882
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Palo Alto, 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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