2025 Compare Cities People:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Costa Mesa, CA

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Highlights
- Costa Mesa is 0% more densely populated than Santa Cruz.
- People are 41.5% more likely to be married in Costa Mesa.
- The Median Age is 7.0 years older in Costa Mesa.
 Santa Cruz, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock112,148329,725,481
 Female Population50.9%  Unlock50.5%
 Male Population49.1%  Unlock49.5%
 Median Age  Unlock3638.4
 space3
 Population - 201060,593  Unlock309,327,143
 Population - 2000  Unlock108,724285,036,114
 Population - 199049,040  Unlock251,960,433
 Pop. 2000 to Now  Unlock3.4%15.6%
 Pop. 1990 to Now31.2%  Unlock30.8%
 space4
 Population Density  Unlock7,099.893.4
 Land Area12.7  Unlock3,531,905.4
 Water Area  Unlock0.0264,836.8
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 Est. Total Population By Age
 Santa Cruz, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Age 0 to 43.1%  Unlock5.9%
 Age 5 to 9  Unlock4.8%6.1%
 Age 10 to 143.5%  Unlock6.6%
 Age 15 to 17  Unlock3.2%3.9%
 Age 18 to 2017.7%  Unlock4.0%
 Age 21 to 24  Unlock5.1%5.2%
 Age 25 to 3412.7%  Unlock13.8%
 Age 35 to 44  Unlock15.1%12.9%
 Age 45 to 5410.5%  Unlock12.6%
 Age 55 to 59  Unlock6.4%6.7%
 Age 60 to 645.0%  Unlock6.3%
 Age 65 to 74  Unlock7.5%9.6%
 Age 75 to 842.7%  Unlock4.5%
 Age 85 and over  Unlock1.7%1.9%
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 Race
 Santa Cruz, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 White60.8%  Unlock59.4%
 Black  Unlock1.3%12.2%
 Asian10.6%  Unlock5.6%
 Native American  Unlock0.1%0.6%
 Hawaiian, Pacific Islander0.1%  Unlock0.2%
 Other  Unlock0.4%0.4%
 Two or More Races5.1%  Unlock3.2%
 Hispanic  Unlock35.9%18.4%
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 Marriage & Family
 Santa Cruz, CACosta Mesa, CAUnited States
 Married Population31.9%  Unlock49.8%
     Currently Married  Unlock43.3%48.0%
 Married but Separated1.1%  Unlock1.8%
 Single Population  Unlock54.9%50.2%
 Never Married57.2%  Unlock33.8%
 Divorced  Unlock10.6%10.8%
 Widowed2.2%  Unlock5.6%
 space5
 Household Size  Unlock2.682.60
 Households22,067  Unlock124,010,992
 Family Households  Unlock24,50380,755,759
     Married couple, w/children29.8%  Unlock30.5%
     Married couple, no children  Unlock40.8%42.9%
 Non Family Households11,658  Unlock43,255,233
     Single householder, w/children  Unlock14.8%15.8%
     Single householder, no children8.2%  Unlock10.8%
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 Costa Mesa    8 Reviews

Over 15 years ago

Costa mesa has awesome shopping but is way too crowded and I have had 3 cars stolen in the past 5 years along with countless break-ins and theft. Expensive. Close to  More

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Over 16 years ago

Costa Mesa has a near perfect climate . . . plenty of sun but rarely over 100 degrees (our house doesn't even have AC). Nestled between Newport Beach and Huntington  More

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We have a good amount of low-income, medium-income, and relatively high-income  More

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