10 Best Independent Living Communities in Santa Cruz, CA

Learn More About Independent Living in Santa Cruz, CA

A picturesque coastal California gem just south of the Bay Area, Santa Cruz offers many conveniences and attractions typical of a large urban center but still retains the charm of a beach town or seaside resort. An iconic amusement park, unique museums, diverse shopping and dining experiences, and several healthcare facilities combine to make Santa Cruz a well-rounded city with a wide variety of entertainment options. The region’s warm Mediterranean climate provides year-round opportunities to enjoy Santa Cruz to the fullest. Pristine beaches and natural areas, like Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, create all kinds of possibilities for residents to enjoy an active lifestyle — and Northern California’s wine country is never far away.

Independent living communities — also known simply as retirement communities — in Santa Cruz are geared towards seniors who are able to live on their own, without daily assistance, and prefer to live among people their age. This usually means residents are self-sufficient and do not require hands-on care. Think of Santa Cruz retirement communities as age-restricted (typically 55+) complexes, which provide organized activities, meal services, and transportation.

Cost of Independent Living in Santa Cruz, CA

The median monthly cost of independent living in 2019 was about $5,800 in the Santa Cruz area and $3,000 in the state of California.

Learn More About Santa Cruz, CA

Cost of Living

The total household expenses associated with living in Santa Cruz are rated nine points above the national average. Grocery and other essential costs are also rated above the average.

Index Scores

All index scores are based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates that the cost is twice as expensive as the national average, while a score of 50 indicates that the cost is half as expensive.

Household Expenses	Health Care	Insurance	Entertainment	Groceries	Clothing
109	129	102	107	106	102

Income and Housing

Median Income Age 45-64	Median Income Age 65+	Median Household Income	Average Individual Income	Median Employee Salary	Average Property Tax	One-bedroom Apartment Gross Rent Estimate
$90,244 per year	$54,913 per year	$67,765 per year	$35,608 per year	$43,394 per year	$5,835 per year	$1,375 per month

Local Hospitals

The top hospitals that service Santa Cruz include:

Dominican Hospital

• Facility type: faith-based, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 220+
• Specialties: emergency care, ICU, joint replacement

Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center of Santa Cruz

• Facility type: nonprofit, short-term acute care
• Bed count: 30+
• Specialties: arthroscopy, joint replacement, spine surgery

Weather and Climate

Santa Cruz’s climate is classified as warm-summer Mediterranean, meaning the city experiences mild, wet winters and mostly dry summers. The average humidity level is 73%, and humidity levels are often highest during February at about 76%.

Seasonal Temperatures

January Average	January Maximum	January Minimum
51°F	61°F	40°F

July Average	July Maximum	July Minimum
64°F	75°F	53°F

Air Quality

• Relative Air Quality Index: 101

This index is based on a scale that has the national average set at 100. A score of 200 indicates twice the presence of air pollutants than the national average, while a score of 50 indicates half the presence.

Precipitation

• Average annual precipitation: 31″

Demographics and Values

Population Statistics

Median Age	Percent of Population Over 65	Population	Population Density	Average Household Size
32	11.7%	63,054	4,949 per square mile	2.4

Race & Ethnicity

American Indian or Alaskan Native	Asian	Black	Hispanic or Latino	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	White (not Hispanic or Latino)
0.4%	9.8%	1.9%	21.1%	0.2%	5.9%	62.6%

These figures were taken from the most recent U.S. Census.

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity

These scores were taken from the 2019 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

• Non-discrimination laws in San Jose: 30/30
• Overall inclusivity: 100/100

2016 Presidential Election Results for Santa Cruz County

Democratic	Republican	Other
75%	17.8%	7.3%

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Recreation

Some of the most popular museums and historic sites in Santa Cruz include:

• Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
• Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
• The Victorians of Walnut Avenue, Castro Adobe, Wilder Ranch State Park
• Santa Cruz Wharf

Outdoor attractions in Santa Cruz:

• Ocean View Park, Neary Lagoon Park, Harvey West Park, Seabright State Beach, Lighthouse Field State Beach
• Moore Creek Preserve, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, Neary Lagoon Park
• UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Santa Cruz’s top entertainment destinations and shopping districts are:

• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
• Regal Santa Cruz, Landmark’s Del Mar Theatre
• Santa Cruz Film Festival, Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival, Monterey Birding Festival
• San Lorenzo Park Plaza Shopping Center, Gateway Plaza

Transportation

Santa Cruz METRO operates bus routes in Santa Cruz and neighboring cities, as well as an express bus to San Jose. For cyclists, Santa Cruz has many facilities catered to bike transit, such as lockers and racks throughout the city to make biking a viable option for transportation within the city. Taxis and rideshare services, like Uber and Lyft, are also available in Santa Cruz.