Living in Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz has a mix of public districts, charters, and private options. School quality varies by neighborhood, and many families choose their part of town based on feeder patterns. The district receives "B+" scores for elementary schools and an "A" grade for high school district by niche.com.

Public Schools (Santa Cruz City Schools)

Elementary Schools
- Westlake Elementary — strong reputation; great Westside option
- DeLaveaga Elementary — well-ranked, solid neighborhood school
- Gault Elementary — downtown/Seabright access

Middle Schools
- Mission Hill Middle — Westside + central city
- Branciforte Middle — Seabright + Midtown areas

High Schools
- Santa Cruz High School — centrally located; strong arts and athletics
- Harbor High School — Midtown/Seabright; IB program available

Charter / Alternative
- Pacific Collegiate School (PCS) — one of California’s top charter high schools
- Alternative Family Education (AFE) — hybrid/home-school support

Private Schools
- Santa Cruz Montessori
- Kirby School — upper-grade private with strong academics

---

aurabloveslife
7mo ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I love it. Been here since 2006 and currently 36. Cost of living is high which is why I’ve been in the Santa Cruz mountains for the past 6 years. If you love nature and a laid back environment than this is a great place to live. In my 20s, I worked my ass off and partied even harder. With the right social group I was never without something to do. Since then I’ve gotten sober (+5 years) and had a baby. Meeting people of quality with similar life goals/values can be challenging but I swooped my guy up as soon as he moved here but as far as relationships go, I truly believe what’s meant to be yours will find you so I never really stressed over that. I love the sense of community I have, especially in the mountains. Neighbors are friendly and always looking out for one another. There are so many groups and events to attend especially for new moms which I appreciate. The town may be sleepy at night but there’s always something to do, whether that be hiking, biking, surfing, farmers markets, etc. I spent a lot of my 20s attending reggae shows at moes alley which made for fond memories, also a really great community of people. I’ve found my peaceful spot in the redwoods and feel safe raising my son here and hope he will have a healthy appreciation for nature. The food isn’t all that great tbh. I definitely feel like our food scene could use some new blood but there are plenty of taquerias and thai restaurants to satisfy me. Don’t get me wrong we have some decent restaurants but it’s nothing to write home about. With that being said, you learn to cook great meals at home and enjoy going out to eat when out of town that much more. All in all I think it’s a great community with plenty to do so long as you enjoy the outdoors. I love the proximity to the bay as well. My sisters are no more than a two hour drive away and you have decent proximity to Tahoe, pinnacles, Yosemite, sequoia national park, kings canyon, pismo etc all within a 4hr drive. We’re big campers so having that at our finger tips is a huge plus. San Francisco isn’t too far if you’re craving a night out. Depending on what you’re into, it’s definitely a great place to live.

For more reviews of what living in Santa Cruz is like from locals, check out The Reviews. https://lookyloomove.com/locations/santacruz/reviews

---

Q: Is Santa Cruz expensive?

A: Yes — coastal California pricing applies, but there is more variation than in the Bay Area.

Q: Is Santa Cruz safe?

A: Neighborhoods vary. Most residential areas are safe, while some downtown blocks have visible poverty and homelessness.

Q: Is Santa Cruz walkable?

A: Westside, Seabright, Midtown, and Downtown offer walkability. Other areas are car-dependent.

Q: Can you commute to Silicon Valley?

A: Yes — many people do hybrid schedules. Full-time commuting is tough but not impossible.

Q: Are schools good?

A: Many are strong, especially in Westside, Soquel/Capitola, and Aptos. Charter and magnet options add flexibility.

Q: What's the weather like?

A: Coastal cool — mild year-round with fog in the mornings and breezy afternoons.

Q: What’s the downside?

A: Housing costs, summer traffic, and limited rental inventory.

---

Start Your Movebook for Santa Cruz

Compare neighborhoods, track schools, and get matched with a LookyLOO Scout who knows the Santa Cruz market.

Create Your Movebook →