2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Santa Fe, NM vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Cruz older or younger than people in Santa Fe?
- The Median Age in Santa Cruz is 15.0 years younger than in Santa Fe.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Cruz or Santa Fe?
- Santa Cruz housing costs are 134.9% more expensive than Santa Fe housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Cruz or Santa Fe?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Cruz is 4.3 minutes longer than it is for residents of Santa Fe.

Things to do in Santa Fe?
Santa Fe, New Mexico is considered one of America's most unique and beautiful cities that offers stunning views of both the Sangre de Cristo mountains and downtown Plaza.

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.

 Santa Fe, NMSanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock62,714329,725,481
 Median Income$61,990  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock2938.4
 Avg. Home Price$541,100  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.5%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time19.14  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Santa Fe    55 Reviews

I’ve recently moved to Santa Fe from Colorado. I love Santa Fe for various reasons… mostly because of the tricultural aspects of it. We have amazing Native American,  More

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Over 6 years ago

Bought a house here in 2013 and split my time here with other house in Adirondack Mountains of NYS. Santa Fe is great, but not perfect. Love the climate. 306 days of  More

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Over 6 years ago

The only 2 things about Santa Fe that are nice is the scenery and the weather. But, those two things cannot bring about the total comfort and homeyness that makes a city  More

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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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