2025 Compare Cities Overview:
San Luis Obispo, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Cruz older or younger than people in San Luis Obispo?
- The Median Age in Santa Cruz is 3.0 years older than in San Luis Obispo.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Cruz or San Luis Obispo?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 36.3% more expensive than San Luis Obispo housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Cruz or San Luis Obispo?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Cruz is 8.3 minutes longer than it is for residents of San Luis Obispo.

Things to do in San Luis Obispo?
San Luis Obispo, California is located on the Central Coast and offers stunning views of rolling hills and the Pacific Ocean. It's a great place to live with its temperate climate, excellent restaurants and unique shops. Every year locals flock to the famous Thursday night Farmer’s Market or to outdoor festivals like the SLO County Fair. For outdoor activities there are plenty of parks and trails plus beaches for surfing and swimming.

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.

 San Luis Obispo, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,714329,725,481
 Median Income$61,862  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock2938.4
 Avg. Home Price$932,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time15.16  Unlock26.38
Reviews for San Luis Obispo    21 Reviews

MY FIANCEE AND I ARE LOOKING TO MOVE TO SLO FOR RETIREMENT ( NEXT MONTH ) WE ARE BOTH ARTISTS AND HOPE OUR TALENT WILL HELP WITH COST OF LIVING IN SLO!!! ANY  More

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Over 10 years ago

In almost any season of the year in San Luis Obispo, you’ll find the sun shining and the temperature hitting around 70º at some point in the day. With the temperature  More

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San Luis Obispo and surrounding areas are beautiful, great weather, beaches, farms markets, a downtown area full of some of the best bars and restaurants, wine country,  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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