2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Menlo Park, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Menlo Park older or younger than people in Santa Cruz?
- The Median Age in Menlo Park is 9.4 years older than in Santa Cruz.

Are housing costs cheaper in Menlo Park or Santa Cruz?
- Menlo Park housing costs are 94.9% more expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Menlo Park or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Menlo Park is 1.6 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 Menlo Park?
Menlo Park, CA is known for being one of Silicon Valley's most innovative cities due to its phenomenal growth in business communities over the decades. Located only 30 minutes from San Francisco Bay Area beaches, it provides ample recreational activities like kayaking or sail boating plus plenty of shopping options thanks to its unique boutiques and diverse culture

 Santa Cruz, CAMenlo Park, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock33,677329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock38.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock3.9%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 Menlo Park    5 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

Cost of living is beyond absurdly  More

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Very nice. Good connection to San Francisco or San Jose or any city in between via Caltrain or bus. Weather can't be  More

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My 14mo daughter, wife and I live in Menlo Park, CA which is approximately half way between San Francisco and San Jose. To afford an upper middle class quality of life  More

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