Santa Cruz, CA Reviews


44 Reviews



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What BestPlaces Users Say about Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a small coastal city located in California, known for its beautiful beaches, surfing culture, and laid-back atmosphere. It has a population of approximately 65,000 people and is home to the University of California, Santa Cruz. With its moderate climate and scenic views, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination and has become a desirable place to live for many people.

Summarize: Many people have left reviews about living in Santa Cruz on the website "Best Places". Overall, the majority of comments praise the city for its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and friendly community. However, some reviewers also mention concerns about the high cost of living and homelessness in the area.

1. From user "Susan H", "Santa Cruz is a wonderful city to live in. The beaches are amazing and there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy. The community is very welcoming and there's always something fun happening in town."

2. User "John R" shares, "I've lived in Santa Cruz for 10 years now and I absolutely love it. The weather is perfect and there's a great mix of college students and families. However, the cost of living keeps going up and it's becoming harder to afford."

3. "Jenny M" states, "I moved to Santa Cruz last year and it's been a bit of a disappointment. The homeless population is quite high and it's sad to see people struggling on the streets. I also wish there were more job opportunities in the area."

4. User "Mark T" writes, "I've lived in Santa Cruz my whole life and I can't imagine calling anywhere else home. The natural beauty here is unparalleled and the community is like one big family. It's pricey, but it's worth every penny to live in such a unique and special place."

 based on 44 Reviews
Get to know Santa Cruz with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Santa Cruz

Beautiful but expensive - 2/27/2006
Santa Cruz is an amazing place to live. If you can afford the high cost of housing and can find a job that pays you a living Read More

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Picture perfect and great climate, but you can't a - 2/25/2006
We have to work our butts off to pay the mortgage, house maintenance, property taxes and then gas for the car. U can forget about buying a house here if you just have an average joe kind of Read More

My wife and I are considering relocating out of Sa - 2/23/2006
As much as it pains me to consider it, I'm begining to believe that life can be better somewhere else. As far as geographic beauty and weather, you cannot beat Santa Cruz. Unfortunately the town has a major identity crisis- wants to stay a funky little beach town but what it has become is a very expensive town by the beach with some funky parts to it (homeless people, tons of college students, worn out streets, and a city council seemingly more interested in things like medical marijuana than inceasing city revenues). The elementary schools are good, Jr high is decent and the high school is fair. We have lots of friends here and it would be painful to move away from them, but I make a good salary and can barely cover our expenses. I just don't think that the weather is worth it any Read More

love and hate in Santa Cruz - 2/7/2006
People keep coming here, we can't seem to stop the influx of people. And yet our city just can't hold any more. The streets are so over whelmed with traffic. I live 2.2 miles from work and it can take me a half hour to get home. No one wants to give anyone else a break, as they might just get to their destination 5 seconds ahead. Getting someone to stop for a pedestrian? That seems to be the reason so many people cross streets against the light. We are all victims of the bike riding mafia. Traffic rules do not seem to apply to the bicyclists. The housing prices are so high, some of the highest in the country. Gasoline is always more than over the hill in San Jose. A lot of the sales clerks have attitude. And for this town to have a reputation as a land of tolerance is a joke. The tolerance is only if you see things "their" way. And the begging is constant. I have been here 24 yrs and the changes have all been to the negative. Why stay? My children are 5th generation, Read More

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