2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Evanston, IL vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Cruz older or younger than people in Evanston?
- The Median Age in Santa Cruz is 7.6 years younger than in Evanston.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Cruz or Evanston?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 199.1% more expensive than Evanston housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Cruz or Evanston?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Cruz is 7.4 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Evanston.

Things to do in Evanston?
Evanston, Illinois is a vibrant city located in the Northeastern region of the United States. Home to attractions such as Northwestern University and Chicago Botanic Garden, visitors can explore outdoor activities and educational sites when visiting Evanston. There are also plenty of museums, galleries, and performance venues such as the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian and Piven Theatre Works. For entertainment, visitors can explore boutique shops and restaurants along with movie theaters and live music clubs. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an exciting night out, Evanston has something for everyone!

Things to do in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz, California is an incredible city located in the heart of the Monterey Bay area. This beautiful city offers plenty for visitors to explore such as the stunning natural beaches or the charming downtown area. Residents here also take advantage of all the outdoor activities available at Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Beach, Wilder Ranch State Park, and Seymour Marine Discovery Center. With its excellent school systems, thriving businesses, and numerous recreational opportunities, it's no wonder why so many people choose to make Santa Cruz their home.

 Evanston, ILSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,714329,725,481
 Median Income$87,345  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock2938.4
 Avg. Home Price$424,900  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time30.84  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Evanston    20 Reviews

Over 6 years ago

be sure to take pictures of where you park... Full-scale parking scam going on in this town. They purposely obscure self-pay parking signs. Nine out of 10 visitors  More

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I've lived here for two years for school. Terrible place for students. Northwestern is a great school/campus, but the city itself is NOT student friendly. Everything  More

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Aside from everything else mentioned on this site about the bad aspects of Evanston - bot be overlooked is the NOISE. The People's Republic of Evanston CATERS to the  More

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Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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