Santa Cruz County, CA population age distribution
A complete breakdown of Santa Cruz County's age demographics from 0 to 85 years, distributed across 18 age groups is listed in the table below.
Age Group | Population | % of Total Population |
---|---|---|
Under 5 years | 13,075 | 4.8% |
5 to 9 years | 13,519 | 4.97% |
10 to 14 years | 15,973 | 5.87% |
15 to 19 years | 23,112 | 8.49% |
20 to 24 years | 26,474 | 9.73% |
25 to 29 years | 17,335 | 6.37% |
30 to 34 years | 15,613 | 5.74% |
35 to 39 years | 15,792 | 5.8% |
40 to 44 years | 16,246 | 5.97% |
45 to 49 years | 16,283 | 5.98% |
50 to 54 years | 16,895 | 6.21% |
55 to 59 years | 18,643 | 6.85% |
60 to 64 years | 17,393 | 6.39% |
65 to 69 years | 16,708 | 6.14% |
70 to 74 years | 12,891 | 4.74% |
75 to 79 years | 6,510 | 2.39% |
80 to 84 years | 4,522 | 1.66% |
85 years and over | 5,154 | 1.89% |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Santa Cruz County, CA population by age group
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2021

The largest age group in Santa Cruz County, CA was for the group of age 20-24 years with a population of 26,474 (9.73%), according to the 2021 American Community Survey.
At the same time, the smallest age group in Santa Cruz County, CA was the 80-84 years with a population of 4,522 (1.66%).
Santa Cruz County, CA population by age cohort
To better understand the age distribution of Santa Cruz County, CA's population, we divided it into the following 3 cohorts:
- Children : Under the age of 18 years
- Adults (working population): Between the age of 18 and 64 years
- Seniors: 65 years and above

Here's the population for each of the three cohorts.
Age Group | Population | % of Total Population |
---|---|---|
Under 18 years | 51,985 | 19.1% |
18 to 64 years | 174,368 | 64.07% |
85 years and over | 45,785 | 16.82% |
Key stats for each age cohort as per our analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey:
- Santa Cruz County's population under 18 was 19.10%, compared to the 22.51% nationwide.
- Santa Cruz County's working population (between 18 and 64) was 64.07%, compared to 61.45% nationwide.
- Santa Cruz County's elderly or the senior population (over 65 age) was 16.82% as compared to 16.04% nationwide.
Santa Cruz County, CA population pyramid
Population pyramid for Santa Cruz County, CA is charted below using the estimates from U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. A wide base suggests population increase, narrow base indicates declining birth rates.
Key stats from our analysis of the Santa Cruz County's population pyramid:
- Youth dependency ratio, which is the number of children aged 0-14 per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Santa Cruz County, CA, is 23.2.
- Old-age dependency ratio, which is the number of persons aged 65 or over per 100 persons aged 15-64, for Santa Cruz County, CA, is 24.9.
- Total dependency ratio for Santa Cruz County, CA is 48.1.
- Potential support ratio, which is the number of youth (working age population) per elderly, for Santa Cruz County, CA is 4.0.

Here's the Santa Cruz County, CA's male and female population across different age groups:
Age Group | Population(Male) | Population(Female) | Total Population |
---|---|---|---|
Under 5 years | 6,619 | 6,456 | 13,075 |
5 to 9 years | 7,251 | 6,268 | 13,519 |
10 to 14 years | 7,914 | 8,059 | 15,973 |
15 to 19 years | 11,223 | 11,889 | 23,112 |
20 to 24 years | 13,384 | 13,090 | 26,474 |
25 to 29 years | 9,140 | 8,195 | 17,335 |
30 to 34 years | 7,928 | 7,685 | 15,613 |
35 to 39 years | 7,996 | 7,796 | 15,792 |
40 to 44 years | 8,127 | 8,119 | 16,246 |
45 to 49 years | 8,376 | 7,907 | 16,283 |
50 to 54 years | 8,434 | 8,461 | 16,895 |
55 to 59 years | 9,240 | 9,403 | 18,643 |
60 to 64 years | 8,376 | 9,017 | 17,393 |
65 to 69 years | 8,461 | 8,247 | 16,708 |
70 to 74 years | 6,115 | 6,776 | 12,891 |
75 to 79 years | 3,285 | 3,225 | 6,510 |
80 to 84 years | 1,820 | 2,702 | 4,522 |
85 years and over | 1,742 | 3,412 | 5,154 |
Things to know
What is the population of Santa Cruz County, CA under 18?
Santa Cruz County's population under the age of 18 is 51,985, as per the latest U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates. This population is 19.10% of the total resident population of Santa Cruz County, CA.
What is the aging population in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Santa Cruz County's population aged 65 years and above was 45,785. As per the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, this population is 16.82% of the entire population.
References
- U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 5-Year Estimates