2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Santa Cruz, CA vs New Bern, NC

#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

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

New Bern is a nice quiet town. The people are very nice. The cost of living is low which would be great if you are retiring from a big city. There is always a place eat,  More

I’ve lived here for my hole Life I’m 12 and I just wanna say if u what snow every xmas and on Xmas don’t come here bc u won’t get it. Now if u want a very hot summer  More

My wife and I spent a week here and found it to be an enjoyable area. I have been looking to move to NC for a while now and I think this trip talked her into it.  More