2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Mountain View, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Cruz older or younger than people in Mountain View?
- The Median Age in Santa Cruz is 6.4 years younger than in Mountain View.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Cruz or Mountain View?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 28.4% less expensive than Mountain View housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Cruz or Mountain View?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Cruz is 0.4 minutes longer than it is for residents of Mountain View.

Things to do in Mountain View?
Mountain View, California offers a unique mix between traditional landmarks such as Moffett's Hangar One or the NASA Ames Research Center for any aerospace aficionado combined with modern attractions such as Shoreline Amphitheater or GooglePlex.

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.

 Mountain View, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,714329,725,481
 Median Income$158,104  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock2938.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,773,700  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time23.01  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Mountain View    15 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

It’s  More

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I've lived here 25 years. Perfect climate. Very central for employment opportunities. Really great schools. 45 min to San Fran, 45 min to Santa Cruz beach. Shoreline  More

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Over 15 years ago

I was born and raised in Mountain View. I used to really like this city, and California. Unfortunately, the city (along with the state) has been over run with high  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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