2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Golden, CO vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
- Household income in Santa Cruz, is 15% more than it is in Golden and is 28% above the National Average.
- Golden unemployment rate is 6.3%.
- Santa Cruz unemployment rate is 4.5%.
 Golden, COSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock1.8%1.6%
 Future Job Growth44.3%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes4.5%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock8.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$48,030  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$96,217$69,021
 Family Median Income$125,393  Unlock$85,028
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 Est. Households By Income
 Golden, COSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock10.7%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.0%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock7.9%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K5.7%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock4.6%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K5.3%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock6.1%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K13.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock16.1%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K11.5%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock20.7%9.5%
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 Population By Occupation
 Golden, COSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Management, business, finance21.9%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock12.2%6.5%
 Community, social services1.7%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.7%1.2%
 Education, library7.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock4.3%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology5.9%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock1.9%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.0%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock9.9%5.4%
 Building maintenance1.9%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock3.3%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support19.2%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.9%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair4.7%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock5.2%13.1%
Reviews for Golden    5 Reviews

...6 months of winter from the first snowfall to the last. Lots of warm, sunny days in between. However...just when you think you can get out your shorts and sandals,  More

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It doesn't get any better than this little town, nestled between two stunning mesas. Beauty abounds in every direction. You have that "small town feel" but are just  More

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Over 11 years ago

Golden is a fantastic place to have a family! Close to metro Denver, but close to the mountains and all its recreation. The schools are very good! My boys are 5 and  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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