City profile
Watsonville, CA
Santa Cruz County · Population 51,712
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, CA with about 51,712 residents and a typical home value near $686,000. It is 116 miles from Sacramento, CA, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Warm & sunny
Winter avg
50°F
Summer avg
78°F
Sunny days / yr
265
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$686,000
Typical monthly housing
$4,132
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
141
Taxes
- Property tax
- 0.71%
- State income tax (top)
- 13.3%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Taxed
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.85%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 98/100
Top hazards: Drought, Landslide, Earthquake
Nearest major airport
32 mi to Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 75% Democratic / 21% Republican
Community
Population
51,712
Black population
0.6%
County
Santa Cruz County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving CA than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home insurance is very expensive or hard to get here — get quotes before you buy
- ▸Home prices are softening in 2026 — more room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: wildfire, earthquakes
Highlights
- About 51,712 residents
- Typical home value about $686,000
- 116 miles from Sacramento, CA
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.