2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Lexington, KY

#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

#23 Most Competitive Private Colleges

#26 America's Migraine Hot Spots

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

#56 Most Popular Cities for the Holidays

#91 2005 Best Places to Live

#129 Best Green Cities

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

Lexington is a beautiful city. There are tons of tree lined streets and even trees in both sides of the city's only freeway. It's relatively small, which can be both  More

Very beautiful/underrated city!!  More

I have lived here now for over five years, originally from the west coast and here is my top 10 for why you should NOT move here. #1 The Culture: They have none, it  More