2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Lafayette, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Cruz older or younger than people in Lafayette?
- The Median Age in Santa Cruz is 15.8 years younger than in Lafayette.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Cruz or Lafayette?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 28.1% less expensive than Lafayette housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Cruz or Lafayette?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Cruz is 8.0 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Lafayette.

Things to do in Lafayette?
Lafayette, California is an affluent suburban community located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city offers a variety of shopping and recreation opportunities, including historic landmarks, scenic parks and trails, world-class golf courses, and more. With easy access to major highways and transportation options like BART, Lafayette is the perfect place for commuters. Its vibrant downtown area hosts numerous restaurants and entertainment venues that make it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Whether you're looking for culture or natural beauty, Lafayette provides plenty of options to explore.

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.

 Lafayette, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,714329,725,481
 Median Income$192,546  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock2938.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,767,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time31.46  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Lafayette    4 Reviews

Over 14 years ago

Living in Lafayette is wonderful, if you can afford it! The rolling hills, the great schools and the climate make this a great place to  More

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Great place to raise kids, nice restaurants and some good stores. A bit sparse on things like theaters etc. Weather in Summer is HOT HOT HOT. Bring sunblock and  More

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Over 18 years ago

Summers are too cool due to marine  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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