San Carlos, 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.
San Carlos
66.8
#1504 nationally
Santa Cruz
60.5
#1932 nationally
San Carlos leads in crime level (5.8 vs 16.8). San Carlos leads in median household income ($219,413 vs $105,491). Santa Cruz leads in walk score (63 vs 47).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | San Carlos, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.8 (#1504) | 60.5 (#1932) |
| Population | 28,862 | 61,501 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $2,457,746 | $1,360,355 |
| Median Household Income | $219,413 | $105,491 |
| Average Commute | 26.5 min | 22.2 min |
| Walk Score | 47 | 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+50.3 | D+54.4 |
D
66.8 Score
San Carlos, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$2,457,746
Population
28,862
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
47
Pacific
View San Carlos, 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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