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Living a Beach Lifestyle in Santa Cruz, California

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Where to Retire in Santa Cruz and Home Prices

Zillow reports the median home value to be very high at $1,269,542. in late 2021.

What Is Special about Santa Cruz

Located in a pretty spot on the the Monterey Bay and below the Santa Cruz Mountains, the community offers a lot of outdoor recreation choices including fishing, kayaking, surfing, hiking and biking. The Beach Boardwalk, an oceanfront amusement park, is considered one of the best in the world.

What Is Not Special about Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz has a high crime rate, much of it pertaining to property crime. There is also a very high rate of homelessness here.

Climate and Physical Environment

Santa Cruz has a moderate climate with January's average temperature 50 degrees, and July's average 61 degrees.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

The vibrant town is home to many restaurants, and hosts several festivals, cultural events, outdoor performances and concerts. The city believes in environmental awareness with plentiful organic farms, bike-friendly streets, drought-tolerant gardening incentives, and local art.

Crime

The crime rate is very high.

Medical Facilities

There are hospitals here and many medical facilities.

Transportation

Santa Cruz offers public bus transportation, and has an above average walkability score; The city does have a small international airport, with a larger one in San Francisco, about 60 miles away. Santa Cruz is a very bike friendly town with an extensive network of bike lanes and trails.

Valuable Links

City of Santa Cruz

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