2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Joshua Tree, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Joshua Tree older or younger than people in Santa Cruz?
- The Median Age in Joshua Tree is 11.2 years older than in Santa Cruz.

Are housing costs cheaper in Joshua Tree or Santa Cruz?
- Joshua Tree housing costs are 66.6% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Joshua Tree or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Joshua Tree is 9.2 minutes longer 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 Joshua Tree?
Living in Joshua Tree, CA is an experience like no other. The desert landscape provides an idyllic setting of open skies, rocky terrain, and endless sunsets that create a feeling of serenity and beauty. With plenty of outdoor activities such as rock climbing, camping, hiking, biking, and even stargazing available all year round, Joshua Tree is truly a great place to explore the outdoors. The town itself is also full of eclectic shops and restaurants that add to the unique charm of the area. Despite being located in the middle of the desert, Joshua Tree enjoys relatively mild weather year-round making it a great place for those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

 Santa Cruz, CAJoshua Tree, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock7,398329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock40.238.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.8%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 Joshua Tree    3 Reviews

1973 - 1987 Like any small town certain families have more pull. This was the case for what seem to even narrow more down to schools like Salazar & Dubose. It seemed  More

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went to crossroads, a local restaurant in town, and ran across some folks who are relocating to joshua tree from south carolina. they were in town to go to the art  More

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Just 45 minutes from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree is 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the low desert, and is the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. The city itself it tiny,  More

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