Population
Santa Cruz
60,953
Fountain Valley
56,358
Median Income
Santa Cruz
$111,427
Fountain Valley
$111,797
Home Value
Santa Cruz
$1,180,100
Fountain Valley
$1,018,600
Rent
Santa Cruz
$2,302
Fountain Valley
$2,507
Crime Rate
Santa Cruz
6.13
Fountain Valley
1.80
Cost of Living
Santa Cruz
225.2
Fountain Valley
226.4
Avg Temp
Santa Cruz
N/A
Fountain Valley
N/A
Unemployment
Santa Cruz
6.3%
Fountain Valley
6.3%
How Similar Are Santa Cruz & Fountain Valley?
Fountain Valley is Santa Cruz's #9 most similar city
5 of 10 key metrics match within 10%
Population
Santa Cruz
60,953
Fountain Valley
56,358
Both cities have similar populations — Santa Cruz at 60,953 and Fountain Valley at 56,358.
Violent Crime
Santa Cruz
6.13
Fountain Valley
1.80
Santa Cruz's violent crime is significantly higher than Fountain Valley's — 71% difference.
Property Crime
Santa Cruz
25.15
Fountain Valley
17.84
Santa Cruz has a 29% higher property crime than Fountain Valley.
Political Leaning
Santa Cruz
20.9%
Fountain Valley
47.1%
Both cities lean Democratic, but Fountain Valley has a stronger Democratic lean (56% difference).
Unemployment
Santa Cruz
6.3%
Fountain Valley
6.3%
Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 1% difference.
Median Income
Santa Cruz
$111,427
Fountain Valley
$111,797
Both cities have similar median income — just a 0% difference.
Home Values
Santa Cruz
$1,180,100
Fountain Valley
$1,018,600
Santa Cruz has a 14% higher home values than Fountain Valley.
Education
Santa Cruz
33.5%
Fountain Valley
32.3%
Both cities have similar education — just a 4% difference.
Demographics
Santa Cruz
65.8%
Fountain Valley
43.1%
Santa Cruz has a 35% higher demographics than Fountain Valley.
Cost of Living
Santa Cruz
225.2
Fountain Valley
226.4
Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 1% difference.
5 out of 10 key metrics match within 10%. Santa Cruz and Fountain Valley share several key characteristics.
At a Glance
0
Santa Cruz
0
Fountain Valley
Cost of Living & Affordability
Source: City Stats Index / HUDSanta Cruz scores 117.6 on the transportation index (100 = national avg) vs 170.9 in Fountain Valley. Fountain Valley has a fair market rent (2br) of $3,236 vs $4,214 in Santa Cruz (30% lower). Fountain Valley has a fair market rent (1br) of $2,746 vs $3,298 in Santa Cruz (20% lower).
Overall Cost Index
Housing Index
Food Index
Transportation Index
Healthcare Index
Utilities Index
Living Wage (1 Adult)
Living Wage (Family of 4)
Fair Market Rent (1BR)
Fair Market Rent (2BR)
Housing Market — Fountain Valley leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSFountain Valley has a vacancy rate of 2.1% compared to 8.9% in Santa Cruz. Fountain Valley has a owner-occupied of 66.2% compared to 47.7% in Santa Cruz. Fountain Valley has a single-family homes of 78.3% compared to 65.5% in Santa Cruz.
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Property Tax
Owner-Occupied
Vacancy Rate
Single-Family Homes
Jobs & Economy — Santa Cruz leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSFountain Valley has a poverty rate of 7.3% compared to 17.6% in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has a work from home of 19.3% compared to 14.7% in Fountain Valley. Santa Cruz: 33,751 vs Fountain Valley: 28,425 for labor force.
Median Household Income
Per Capita Income
Poverty Rate
Unemployment Rate
Labor Force
Mean Commute
Work from Home
Private Sector
Government Sector
Crime & Safety — Fountain Valley leads
Source: FBI UCRFountain Valley has a assault rate (per 1k) of 1.00 compared to 4.63 in Santa Cruz. Fountain Valley has a violent crime rate (per 1k) of 1.80 compared to 6.13 in Santa Cruz. Fountain Valley has a larceny rate (per 1k) of 13.37 compared to 22.22 in Santa Cruz.
Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)
Property Crime Rate (per 1K)
Murder Rate (per 1K)
Robbery Rate (per 1K)
Assault Rate (per 1K)
Burglary Rate (per 1K)
Larceny Rate (per 1K)
Violent Crime Clearance
Property Crime Clearance
Weather & Climate
Source: NOAA / Open-MeteoAvg Annual Temperature
Avg Annual High
Avg Annual Low
Sunny Days per Year
Annual Rainfall
Annual Snowfall
Avg Humidity
Schools & Education
Source: NCES / U.S. Census BureauFountain Valley has a high school diploma or higher of 45.3% compared to 39.5% in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has a bachelor's degree or higher of 33.5% compared to 32.3% in Fountain Valley.
Public Schools
Avg Student-Teacher Ratio
Colleges & Universities
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
High School Diploma or Higher
Demographics & Community
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Cruz has a population of 60,953, about 1.1x the size of Fountain Valley (56,358). Santa Cruz skews younger with a median age of 30.7 vs 43.7.
Population
Median Age
Avg Household Size
Married Population
Foreign Born
White
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Santa Cruz
Fountain Valley
Healthcare
Source: CMS Hospital CompareFountain Valley: 5 vs Santa Cruz: 3 for with emergency services. Santa Cruz: 3.0 vs Fountain Valley: 2.7 for avg cms rating (out of 5).
Nearby Hospitals
Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)
With Emergency Services
Transportation & Commute — Santa Cruz leads
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSSanta Cruz has a bicycle of 5.2% compared to 0.1% in Fountain Valley. Santa Cruz has a public transit of 4.8% compared to 0.3% in Fountain Valley. Santa Cruz has a work from home of 19.3% compared to 14.7% in Fountain Valley.
Mean Commute Time
Drive Alone
Public Transit
Bicycle
Work from Home
Airports
Cities Similar to Santa Cruz, CA
Compare Santa Cruz against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.
City Comparison
8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.