Santa Cruz County, California enjoys an idyllic setting on Monterey Bay. It lies just an hour outside of San Francisco, and about a half an hour away from both the Silicon Valley and the city of Monterey, making it an ideal residential location for its many professional residents. The county itself is a bastion of natural beauty, combining the absolute best of west coast environments. The county not only has a temperate Mediterranean climate, with low humidity and over three hundred days of sunshine each year, it also offers its residents miles of while sand beaches as well as lush old-growth Redwood forests.

Santa Cruz County continues to attract new residents to the area. There are currently some 251,584 residents today, with a median age of 35 years old. Just over forty percent of locals here are employed in either a professional or managerial capacity. Nearly a quarter of residents are employed in the service industry, while just over twelve percent work an administrative capacity. The median household income within Santa Cruz County is around $52,853 per year.

While there is an array of housing styles offered in this area, about half of the homes in this region are single-family detached style, with the rest found in multi-family complexes. Home ownership has proven to be a solid investment in the area, with steady appreciation over the years. The most popular option for buyers in the county is a three-bedroom model. Recent sales figures indicate that the average purchase price of a home in Santa Cruz County is currently $650,316.

There are four major cities within Santa Cruz County. By order of their population size they are the city of Santa Cruz, with approximately 55,000 residents; Watsonville which has around 45,000 residents; Scotts Valley, with nearly 12,000 residents; and Capitola, which supports just over 10,000 residents.

The city of Santa Cruz is a popular relocation destination, in part because it has committed approximately ten percent of its land to public parks and open spaces. One of the biggest outdoor attractions is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This is the west coast's only remaining seaside amusement park. This nearly century-old old landmark contains the Loof Carousel, created in 1911, and the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, dating back to 1924. The Boardwalk has its own bowling alley, arcade and two-story miniature golf course. There are special events and festivals held at this site all year long, and in the summer, locals enjoy the weekly free concerts held here.

Walking inland just a few blocks from the seashore, you will come across the newly renovated downtown area. This is truly the heart of the city of Santa Cruz, with tree-lined streets designed for pedestrians. The boutiques, bistros and galleries here are as eclectic as the residents themselves. As a gathering point in the community, this is the spot to pick up information on annual events such as the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, the Santa Cruz Film Festival, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz County offers its residents a haven for outdoor activities. In their free time, you will almost certainly find locals here surfing, playing beach volleyball, hiking, mountain biking, or just pausing to watch the sunset from a unique vantage point. An interesting note about Santa Cruz residents: it is reported that the county is home to more musicians, artists, cultural experts, and historians than anywhere else in America. And these incredibly talented and accomplished folks are very involved in their communities. For residents here, this means some of the most unique fairs, festivals, concerts and cultural events in the country, ideal for folks of all ages.

Santa Cruz County is one of the most diverse regions you could imagine. Starting at the rolling surf and rising to the redwood forests, Santa Cruz County's topography is merely a reflection of its equally diverse and interesting population. If you are thinking about moving, consider a move to one of the vibrant communities located within Santa Cruz County! To learn more about this region, or one of its cities, request our free relocation packet today.