Residential comparison · 13 facts
Gilroy, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Gilroy needs about $93,500 in Santa Cruz to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Santa Cruz, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $76,500 in Gilroy.
A few differences
- Gilroy is higher on median household income ($133,107 vs $115,475).
- Gilroy is lower on cost of living index (157 vs 174).
- Gilroy is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,265/mo vs $2,758/mo).
Gilroy vs Santa Cruz · facet by facet
| Facet | Gilroy, CA | Santa Cruz, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $1,027,400 | $1,209,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,265/mo | $2,758/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.75% | 0.75% |
| State & local income tax | 2.09% | 2.09% |
| Sales tax | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Cost of living index | 157 | 174 |
| Groceries index | 112 | 112 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $133,107 | $115,475 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Crime index | 52/100 | 52/100 |
| School rating | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 260 days | 260 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Gilroy, CA · Santa Cruz, CA
Questions & answers
- Is Gilroy cheaper than Santa Cruz?
- Gilroy has the lower day-to-day cost index (157 vs 174 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Santa Cruz equals $85,000 in Gilroy?
- A household earning $85,000 in Gilroy needs about $93,500 in Santa Cruz to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Santa Cruz lifestyle costs about $76,500 in Gilroy.