2025 Compare Cities Economy:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Key West, FL

Change Cities
Highlights
- Household income in Key West, is 21% less than it is in Santa Cruz and is 9% above the National Average.
- Santa Cruz unemployment rate is 4.5%.
- Key West unemployment rate is 3.2%.
 Santa Cruz, CAKey West, FLUnited States
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.2%6.0%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-7.2%1.6%
 Future Job Growth33.8%  Unlock33.5%
 Sales Taxes9.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Income Taxes  Unlock0.0%4.6%
 Income per Cap.$46,720  Unlock$37,638
 Household Income  Unlock$75,638$69,021
 Family Median Income$145,326  Unlock$85,028
 space
 Est. Households By Income
 Santa Cruz, CAKey West, FLUnited States
 Income Less Than 15K  Unlock6.7%9.4%
 Income between 15K and 20K3.6%  Unlock3.8%
 Income between 20K and 30K  Unlock6.5%8.1%
 Income between 30K and 40K5.9%  Unlock8.0%
 Income between 40K and 50K  Unlock6.6%7.6%
 Income between 50K and 60K3.8%  Unlock7.2%
 Income between 60K and 75K  Unlock9.4%9.6%
 Income between 75K and 100K9.2%  Unlock12.8%
 Income between 100K and 150K  Unlock14.7%16.3%
 Income between 150K and 200K11.5%  Unlock7.8%
 Income greater than 200K  Unlock13.0%9.5%
 space1
 Population By Occupation
 Santa Cruz, CAKey West, FLUnited States
 Management, business, finance17.4%  Unlock16.4%
 Engineering, computers, science  Unlock2.8%6.5%
 Community, social services2.9%  Unlock1.8%
 Legal  Unlock0.7%1.2%
 Education, library10.1%  Unlock6.2%
 Arts, design, media, sports, entertainment  Unlock3.0%2.0%
 Healthcare practitioners and technology6.3%  Unlock6.2%
 Healthcare support  Unlock2.4%3.3%
 Firefighters, law enforcement1.3%  Unlock2.1%
 Food preparation, serving  Unlock12.4%5.4%
 Building maintenance2.2%  Unlock3.6%
 Personal care  Unlock4.2%2.6%
 Sales, office, administrative support18.1%  Unlock20.9%
 Farming, fishing, forestry  Unlock0.5%0.6%
 Construction, extraction, maintenance/repair3.3%  Unlock8.1%
 Production, transportation, material moving  Unlock6.7%13.1%
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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

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

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Santa Cruz

Reviews for Key West    7 Reviews

I was raised in Key West since 1980, these average cost prices for rent that you are seeing were not even accurate then, let alone now in 2021. The average cost of  More

   |    Reply

Over 9 years ago

Like the  More

   |    Reply

I have lived in Key West for the last seven years. During that time, I have observed very little change in the cost of living. I work for a national company that pays  More

   |    Reply

Start Your Review of Key West


Premium Subscription
Includes Cost of Living compares for child care, utilities, transportation, health, taxes, housing for home owners vs renters, weather, insurance premiums and so much more.


The premier source for comprehensive city data for over 30 years.

© Best Places. All rights reserved.