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

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

Are housing costs cheaper in Albany or Santa Cruz?
- Albany housing costs are 4.2% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

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

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.

Things to do in Albany?
Albany, CA is a pleasant village northeast of Berkeley featuring several spectacular spots such as Memorial Park perfect for exploring or Cerrito Creek Trail ideal for recreational activities; locals gather yearly at the remarkable Cajun & Blues Festival celebrating local culture with music and art.

 Santa Cruz, CAAlbany, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock19,958329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock36.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock6.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time23.45  Unlock26.38
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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Reviews for Albany    4 Reviews

Albany is one of the best places to live not only in California but the USA. Niche 2023 has ranked Albany the number one suburb in California and is consistently in the  More

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Over 13 years ago

Like many places in the Bay Area, there are some mixed-race couples and gay couples in Albany. What is really striking, though, is the number of families where both  More

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Albany was originally built as a railroad workers' town. So the bad news is that nearly every house was originally two, or at most three, bedrooms with one bath, about  More

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