2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Watsonville, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Watsonville?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 8.0 years older than in Watsonville.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Watsonville?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 89.9% more expensive than Watsonville housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Watsonville?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 6.7 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Watsonville.

Things to do in Watsonville?
Watsonville, California is a vibrant city located on the central coast of California. Nestled between Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains, Watsonville offers a unique blend of natural beauty and urban amenities. From its wide variety of parks, trails and lakes to historic buildings and colorful murals, Watsonville has something for everyone. Visitors can explore its thriving farmers markets, galleries and restaurants or take in the spectacular views from cliffside beaches. With its friendly people and vibrant culture, Watsonville is a great place to call home or visit for an unforgettable experience.

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Watsonville, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$67,007  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$803,400  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time23.84  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Watsonville    3 Reviews

We live in a nice area and love the climate but cost of living have gotten way out of hand. Vandals walk around smashing windows over and over without getting  More

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the cost of housing is slightly more affordable (just slightly). Close to the beach and near perfect weather. Especially during summer when it was 107 in San Jose' it  More

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Over 19 years ago

Nice neighborhood, but since moving here we have not felt a sense of  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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