2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Santee, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santee older or younger than people in Santa Cruz?
- The Median Age in Santee is 10.3 years older than in Santa Cruz.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santee or Santa Cruz?
- Santee housing costs are 47.1% less expensive than Santa Cruz housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santee or Santa Cruz?
- The average commute for residents of Santee is 3.3 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 Santee?
Santee, California is a vibrant and bustling city located near San Diego. With its bustling downtown area filled with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, visitors can experience the area's unique culture and history. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy exploring any of Santee's many parks or taking in the breathtaking views of nearby Lake Murray. Plus, with its convenient location close to San Diego and other major cities of Southern California, visitors have easy access for a day trip if desired. With so much to offer, it's no wonder why Santee remains a popular destination year-round!

 Santa Cruz, CASantee, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock59,679329,725,481
 Median Income$96,217  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.338.4
 Avg. Home Price$1,270,800  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.8%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 Santee    10 Reviews

Over 13 years ago

I have lived in Santee for 36 years and the changes have been extensive. Traffic has been, and still is, a big problem. However, that's a problem in most CA towns and  More

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Over 13 years ago

San Diego in general is a very expensive place to live. Santee is less so but compared to the rest of the country we are way over  More

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Over 17 years ago

Santee has a great quality of life,low crime, good schools(some of the best schools east county has to offer), fairly short commute time, as it is fairly well central in  More

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