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2026 Compare Cities Education:
Santa Cruz, CA vs San Rafael, CA

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Highlights
- San Rafael spends 29.0% more per student than Santa Cruz.
- The Student Teacher Ratio is 9.2% lower in San Rafael than in Santa Cruz. (lower means fewer students in each classroom).
- San Rafael had 9.7% fewer residents who had graduated High School compared to Santa Cruz
 Santa Cruz, CASan Rafael, CAUnited States
 Expend. per Student  Unlock$21,111$15,905
 Educ. Expend. per Student$13,552  Unlock$13,142
 Instr. Expend. per Student  Unlock$9,450$7,999
 Pupil/Teacher Ratio21.84  Unlock16.23
 Students per Librarian  Unlock41414573
 Students per Counselor473  Unlock530
 Grade School Educ.  Unlock9.4%4.8%
 Some High School Educ.1.9%  Unlock6.3%
 High School Educ.  Unlock86.4%88.9%
 Some College Educ.19.7%  Unlock20.0%
 2 yr College Grad.  Unlock6.2%8.7%
 4 yr College Grad.56.6%  Unlock33.7%
 Masters Grad.  Unlock13.0%9.3%
 Professional Degree4.9%  Unlock2.2%
 Doctorate Degree  Unlock2.9%1.5%
Economy
Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews
NC · Boise City, ID
Some love it, others not so much
Over 6 years ago

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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Kimberly · Santa Cruz, CA
Small Town, Big City
Over 6 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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Holly · Live Oak, CA
Santa Cruz is my Heart Home in so many ways
Over 7 years ago

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 San Rafael    7 Reviews
Monica · San Rafael, CA
Moderation is always good
Over 14 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Jonathan · San Rafael, CA
Crime
Over 16 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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David · San Rafael, CA
San Rafael
Over 18 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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Learn More About Santa Cruz, California
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