2025 Compare Cities Rankings:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Port Angeles, WA

#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

I totally disagree with many of the reviews I’ve read about Port Angeles. I’ve lived here for 18 months now and I absolutely love this town. The weather is awesome, the  More

PERSPECTIVE: I’m writing as a visitor and ZNOT as an established resident. So, that is my bias. I’ve visited PA five times in the past three years; staying with friends  More

The only positive thing to say about this town is the nature: the Olympic national park, lake crescent, and others around it are absolutely beautiful!!! But that's more  More