2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Anacortes, WA

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Highlights
Are people in Anacortes older or younger than people in Santa Cruz?
- The Median Age in Anacortes is 19.6 years older than in Santa Cruz.

Are housing costs cheaper in Anacortes or Santa Cruz?
- Anacortes housing costs are 46.1% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Anacortes or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Anacortes is 1.3 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 Anacortes?
Anacortes is a city located in Skagit County, Washington offering plenty of activities for visitors to do like taking part in various outdoor activities such as sea kayaking or visiting nearby Deception Pass State Park. Additionally, there are also several museums and galleries situated around town providing an insight into the area's history plus several shopping outlets perfect for browsing unique items!

 Santa Cruz, CAAnacortes, WAUnited States
 Population  Unlock17,437329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock48.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.0%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 Anacortes    5 Reviews

Living here feels like you're on an a vacation and with so many other wonderful towns and destinations nearby too there’s always somewhere to go if you want to take a  More

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Over 16 years ago

My husband and I are thinking about relocating to Anacortes. Can you update the current real estate conditions and possibly comment on the access to jobs, health-care  More

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Over 17 years ago

Your population information for Anacortes is incorrect. Population is slightly under 16,000. Build out of the city's space is approximately 20,000 which is not  More

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