2026 Compare Cities Rankings:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Aptos, CA

#18 Most Competitive Public Colleges

#27 Best Green Cities

#41 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#124 2005 Best Places to Live

#18 Most Competitive Public Colleges

#27 Best Green Cities

#41 America's Best and Worst Cities for Crime (Mid-Size Metro Areas)

#124 2005 Best Places to Live

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

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

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

I have owned a home in Aptos for 10 years and cannot thing of anywhere else I would rather live. I have lived in San Diego, Orange County, Half Moon Bay, and other  More

Well, Aptos is in Santa Cruz County, California. I love the entire county of Santa Cruz. The weather is fantastic. We have both the beautiful Monterey Bay with lots  More

We've lived in Aptos/Rio Del Mar for many years and it's a very lovely, peaceful village far from the rat race . The views of the ocean are stunning and the shopping in  More