2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Bay City, MI

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Highlights
Are people in Bay City older or younger than people in Santa Cruz?
- The Median Age in Bay City is 10.0 years older than in Santa Cruz.

Are housing costs cheaper in Bay City or Santa Cruz?
- Bay City housing costs are 92.7% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Bay City or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Bay City is 3.6 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 Bay City?
Bay City MI rests near Saginaw Valley known mostly for its historic riverfront district packed with shops & restaurants alongside several Victorian style houses giving visitors an authentic glimpse into Michigan’s past.

 Santa Cruz, CABay City, MIUnited States
 Population  Unlock32,824329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock3938.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock8.2%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 Bay City    7 Reviews

Bay City offers low prices for homes due to lower population (Current lower demand). Years ago, the population was more than 3x as big due to big lumber industry, etc.  More

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But everything else is going to  More

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There are many pros to Bay City, it is incredibly cheap to live in and most everything is very affordable. The problem is that the economy is terrible and there aren't  More

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