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

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

Are housing costs cheaper in Alturas or Santa Cruz?
- Alturas housing costs are 87.8% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Alturas or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Alturas is 8.2 minutes shorter 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 Alturas?
Living in Alturas, CA is a great experience for those who value peace and quiet. Alturas is a small rural town in northern California that boasts beautiful scenery and friendly locals. The town is surrounded by lush forests and stunning mountain ranges, with plenty of outdoor activities to explore. Many people come to Alturas for its calm atmosphere, unique stores and great food. There are plenty of options for entertainment including antiquing, art galleries, music venues and more. Despite being relatively small, Alturas has all the amenities one could need for a comfortable life.

 Santa Cruz, CAAlturas, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock2,693329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock44.838.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock8.9%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 Alturas    5 Reviews

Over 5 years ago

Crime seems unreasonably high for this area. Shame. Guess there is no place void of California’s problems. Even way up in the North out in the  More

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I visited there years ago and camped at Blue Lake in the Warner Mts. This is America as it was in the 1950's, minus all our modern  More

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Over 14 years ago

I am considering buying an acreage north of Alturas, could anyone tell me what the water table is for drilling? I would appreciate it. Also are there alot of timber 8  More

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