2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Salem, MA

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Highlights
Are people in Salem older or younger than people in Santa Cruz?
- The Median Age in Salem is 8.6 years older than in Santa Cruz.

Are housing costs cheaper in Salem or Santa Cruz?
- Salem housing costs are 60.2% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Salem or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Salem is 6.9 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 Salem?
Salem, Massachusetts is situated in Essex county and gives residents plenty of culture attractions from Salem Witch Museum to House Of Seven Gables Museum Store along with various restaurants like Flying Saucer Pizza Company

 Santa Cruz, CASalem, MAUnited States
 Population  Unlock44,452329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock37.638.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock7.1%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 Salem    4 Reviews

I've been in Salem, Massachusetts for a year now because it brought me up here for my husband's job. Salem may be a great place to visit during Halloween but other  More

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Over 12 years ago

My husband and I move to Salem, MA from Long Island NY five years ago and we love it! We kept on visiting for Halloween and we just decided to move here for the hell of  More

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Over 18 years ago

We are family friendly, albeit strange. We celebrate Halloween for a month. Check out the Haunted Happenings  More

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