153 movers in Santa Cruz
Lunardi Moving Services
"I’ve been unpacking boxes for a couple of weeks now, and NOTHING is broken. These guys did an excellent job packing, loading, and unloading my things. I left a tip speculatively, not knowing what I would discover once I began unpacking at my leisu..."
Cardinale Moving and Storage
"I was greatly impressed with the service we received from Cardinale Moving. They visited our house the day before the move, quoted us a fair price and helped pack some difficult items. The next day the moving team arrived on time and cheerfully an..."
Titanium Relocation
"At first glance their logistics coordinators Ashley and Carrie act like they’re going to do anything and everything to make sure that they take “great care and responsibility” about your long distance move to the other side of the country. But in ..."
Trusted Movers
"After thorough research (I made a comparative table !), there are 5 reasons why we chose Trusted Mover and give them 5-stars after our local move. 1. They are a family-owned business that backs up their service. Their customer service is prompt a..."
Palmer Moving & Storage
"I moved from Michigan to Florida in the Winter months. Palmer Moving came to my apartment and wrote down all my items and gave me the price for the move. The day I moved, the movers showed up on time and it was a breeze. No stress for me. Th..."
All In Moving Systems
"Junior and his experienced crew did an awesome job. Junior, Angel, and Home Depot arrived a little early and worked straight through for over six hours. They were courteous, friendly, and helpful - and never complained about anything, even when th..."
SM&S Relocation
"The free wardrobe boxes and tape were a huge help to the overall cost as well there was no additional cost for stairs. They arrived on time packaged up the furniture well and were efficient with the loading process. They worked through and made it..."
ML Movers
"They moved us today and it was great. They worked hard, quickly and were very pleasant. They carried a lot of boxes down stairs and stayed cheerful through out the job. We don't intend to ever move again but if we were to move, we'd hire them agai..."
San Francisco Moving
"We had Rishi, Alex, Victor, John and Bravo as our movers. We had a four bedroom house plus outdoor furniture and garage items that had to be moved to another home about a mile away. The guys were very careful with all our things and did not damag..."
White Red Moving & Storage
"What a pleasure it was to work with Jose and his team!! We absolutely recommend him- no doubt, White Red Moving not only move us once but twice!! We’ll technically three but what a great job they did. Great to have meet him,Jose you are awesome..."
What to know when moving to Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz at a Glance
- The Vibe:
- A highly educated area with 55.2% of residents holding a bachelor's degree.
- The Major Draw:
- A median household income of $106,040 provides a solid economic base.
- The Reality Check:
- With a poverty rate of 17.1%, some residents face economic challenges.
- Commute:
- Only 3.7% of residents use public transit, making it a car-dependent area.
- Top Tip:
- Expect to budget around $2,356 per month for rent.
The 'Vibe' Check: Who Thrives Here?
Santa Cruz features a mix of homeowners and renters, with 48.1% of the population renting. The community is educated, with over half of residents holding a bachelor's degree. However, the 17.1% poverty rate indicates that not everyone shares in the area's economic prosperity. Rainy days make up a significant part of the year, so having an umbrella handy is a good idea.
Probably not your spot if: You prefer a strong public transit system, as only 3.7% of residents rely on it.
Your Money: Housing & Cost Snapshot
- Median rent is $2,356, which reflects the high demand in the area.
- The median owner-occupied home value is $1,189,300, indicating a competitive housing market.
- About 55.2% of residents have a bachelor's degree, contributing to the community's character.
- The poverty rate stands at 17.1%, which may affect local economic conditions.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Data Profiles.
Crime & Safety: What the Numbers Say
In California, the annual property crime rate is 1,764 per 100,000 residents, which is 14% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 415.5 per 100,000 residents, 27.7% higher than the national average.
- Violent crime: 415.5 per 100k vs. national 325.3, a decrease of 17.4% since 2022.
- Property crime: 1,764 per 100k vs. national 1,546.9, a decrease of 26.1% since 2022.
- Notable trend: The homicide rate has dropped by 44.9% since 2022, now at 3.2 per 100k.
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (state-level summarized data for California).
Schools & Higher Ed
Access to education is strong in the area, with three postsecondary institutions available nearby:
- University of California-Santa Cruz
- Five Branches University
- Cabrillo College (in Aptos)
Source: ArcGIS Postsecondary School Locations, U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Weather & Getting Outside
Santa Cruz offers a variety of outdoor spots for nature lovers. Here are a few popular nearby options:
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 4.6 stars (49,119 reviews)
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - 4.8 stars (8,019 reviews)
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park - 4.8 stars (5,220 reviews)
- Lighthouse Field State Beach - 4.7 stars (3,989 reviews)
- Wilder Ranch State Park - 4.8 stars (2,586 reviews)
Source: Google Places API.
Jobs & the Local Economy
The job market in Santa Cruz County is competitive, with an unemployment rate of 6.4% as of December 2025. The labor force consists of approximately 137,384 individuals.
- Unemployment rate: 6.4% (December 2025)
- Employed: 128,578
- Labor force: 137,384
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
