Watsonville, CA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-16

Living In Watsonville, California Summary

Life in Watsonville research summary. HomeSnacks has been researching the quality of life in Watsonville over the past eight years using Census data, FBI crime data, cost of living data, and other primary sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Watsonville:

  • The population in Watsonville is 52,966.

  • The median home value in Watsonville is $542,900.

  • The median income in Watsonville is $67,007.

  • The cost of living in Watsonville is 126 which is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Watsonville is $1,613.

  • The unemployment rate in Watsonville is 8.1%.

  • The poverty rate in Watsonville is 12.9%.

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Watsonville SnackAbility

6
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
6/10
Housing
9
Affordability
3
Diversity
7
Safety
5
Amenities
10
Education
4
Commute
6
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Watsonville, CA Crime Report

Crime in Watsonville summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Watsonville. Key points include:

  • There were 1,261 total crimes in Watsonville in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Watsonville is 2,447.7 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Watsonville is 586.2 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Watsonville is 1,861.5 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Watsonville is 5.32% above the national average.

1,261
Total Crimes
5.32%
Above National Average

Crime In Watsonville Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Watsonville
/ 100k People
California
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,261 2,447.7 2,581.0 2,324.2
Violent Crime 302 586.2 442.0 369.8
Murder 1 1.9 5.6 6.3
Robbery 56 108.7 113.6 66.1
Aggravated Assault 214 415.4 288.7 268.2
Property Crime 959 1,861.5 2,138.9 1,954.4
Burglary 137 265.9 369.7 269.8
Larceny 611 1,186.0 1,341.7 1,401.9
Car Theft 211 409.6 427.6 282.7

Watsonville, CA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Watsonville summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Watsonville. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around California. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Watsonville is 126 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Watsonville is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Watsonville is $542,900.

  • The median income in Watsonville is $67,007.

126
Watsonville's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Watsonville Comparison Table

Living Expense Watsonville California National Average
Overall 126 139 100
Services 87 110 100
Groceries 103 112 100
Health 112 109 100
Housing 177 204 100
Transportation 112 126 100
Utilities 128 124 100

Watsonville, CA Photos

Watsonville
Source: Public Domain
Watsonville Strawberry Festival
Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0
Soccer Central Indoor Sports Arena
Source: Wikipedia User Phorenon | CC BY-SA 3.0
Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds Sign
Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-SA-3.0
Watsonville Civic Plaza
Source: Wikipedia User Phorenon | CC BY-SA 3.0
Kwvi Watsonville Municipal Airport California
Source: Public Domain
Watsonville Palm Beach North
Source: Wikipedia User Phorenon | CC BY-SA 3.0
Watsonville Strawberry Festival Rides
Source: Wikipedia User Phorenon | CC BY-SA 3.0
Scottish Renaissance Festival Watsonville
Source: Wikipedia User Phorenon | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Watsonville in California

Locations Around Watsonville

Map Of Watsonville, CA

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1

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3

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4

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5

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6

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Population 45,267

7

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8

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9

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10

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Population 6,372

Watsonville Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Watsonville

The current population in Watsonville is 52,966. The population has increased 6.8% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2021 52,966 -1.2%
2020 53,616 0.3%
2019 53,452 1.0%
2018 52,915 0.7%
2017 52,543 0.9%
2016 52,085 1.0%
2015 51,544 1.2%
2014 50,945 1.3%
2013 50,291 1.4%
2012 49,580 -

Race / Ethnicity in Watsonville

White
11.9% (6,309)
African American
0.5% (269)
American Indian
0.0% (0)
Asian
2.5% (1,316)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.3% (147)
Two Or More
0.5% (278)
Hispanic
84.3% (44,647)

Watsonville is:

  • 11.9% White with 6,309 White residents.

  • 0.5% African American with 269 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 0 American Indian residents.

  • 2.5% Asian with 1,316 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.3% Other with 147 Other residents.

  • 0.5% Two Or More with 278 Two Or More residents.

  • 84.3% Hispanic with 44,647 Hispanic residents.

Race Watsonville CA USA
White 11.9% 35.8% 59.4%
African American 0.5% 5.4% 12.2%
American Indian 0.0% 0.3% 0.6%
Asian 2.5% 14.7% 5.6%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.3% 0.2%
Other 0.3% 0.4% 0.4%
Two Or More 0.5% 3.6% 3.2%
Hispanic 84.3% 39.5% 18.4%

Gender in Watsonville

Female
50.3% (26,645)
Male
49.7% (26,321)
  • Watsonville is 50.3% female with 26,645 female residents.

  • Watsonville is 49.7% male with 26,321 male residents.

Gender Watsonville CA USA
Female 50.3% 50.0% 50.5%
Male 49.7% 50.0% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Watsonville for adults over 25

< 9th Grade
28.0% (14,830)
9-12th Grade
8.0% (4,237)
High School / GED
26.0% (13,771)
Some College
20.0% (10,593)
Associate's Degree
7.0% (3,707)
Bachelor's Degree
7.0% (3,707)
Master's Degree
3.0% (1,588)
Professional Degree
1.0% (529)
Doctorate Degree
0.0% (0)
  • 28.0% of adults in Watsonville completed < 9th grade.

  • 8.0% of adults in Watsonville completed 9-12th grade.

  • 26.0% of adults in Watsonville completed high school / ged.

  • 20.0% of adults in Watsonville completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in Watsonville completed associate's degree.

  • 7.0% of adults in Watsonville completed bachelor's degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Watsonville completed master's degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Watsonville completed professional degree.

  • 0.0% of adults in Watsonville completed doctorate degree.

Education Watsonville CA USA
< 9th Grade 28.0% 8.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 8.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 26.0% 20.0% 26.0%
Some College 20.0% 21.0% 20.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 7.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 3.0% 9.0% 9.0%
Professional Degree 1.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 0.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Watsonville, California

  • 2.8% of households in Watsonville earn Less than $10,000.

  • 3.9% of households in Watsonville earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 11.6% of households in Watsonville earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 7.8% of households in Watsonville earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 9.8% of households in Watsonville earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 20.4% of households in Watsonville earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 14.4% of households in Watsonville earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 14.6% of households in Watsonville earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 7.5% of households in Watsonville earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 7.2% of households in Watsonville earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
2.8% (147,783)
$10,000 to $14,999
3.9% (205,516)
$15,000 to $24,999
11.6% (611,830)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.8% (413,212)
$35,000 to $49,999
9.8% (519,238)
$50,000 to $74,999
20.4% (1,082,776)
$75,000 to $99,999
14.4% (763,607)
$100,000 to $149,999
14.6% (774,864)
$150,000 to $199,999
7.5% (398,325)
$200,000 or more
7.2% (379,443)
Income Watsonville CA USA
Less than $10,000 2.8% 4.6% 5.5%
$10,000 to $14,999 3.9% 3.6% 3.9%
$15,000 to $24,999 11.6% 6.2% 7.8%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.8% 6.7% 8.2%
$35,000 to $49,999 9.8% 9.4% 11.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 20.4% 14.7% 16.8%
$75,000 to $99,999 14.4% 12.3% 12.8%
$100,000 to $149,999 14.6% 17.5% 16.3%
$150,000 to $199,999 7.5% 9.9% 7.8%
$200,000 or more 7.2% 15.1% 9.5%

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