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Live Oak

#7 in Best Places to Live in Santa Cruz County
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • Town in California
  • 10 reviews
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B+
    2. Crime & Safety
      NG
    3. Housing
      C-
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      B+
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      C+
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D+
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Live Oak is a town in California with a population of 17,213. Live Oak is in Santa Cruz County. Living in Live Oak offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Live Oak there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Live Oak and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Live Oak are above average.
    Population
    17,213

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $622,600
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,670
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      40%
    • Own
      60%
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    Live Oak Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    NG
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      —
      282.7
    • Murder
      —
      6.1
    • Rape
      —
      40.7
    • Robbery
      —
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      —
      500.1
    • Theft
      —
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      —
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      12%
    • 10-17 years
      9%
    • 18-24 years
      9%
    • 25-34 years
      14%
    • 35-44 years
      15%
    • 45-54 years
      14%
    • 55-64 years
      13%
    • 65+ years
      15%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      14%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      25%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      35%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      15%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      11%
      13%

    Working in Live Oak

    Jobs
    C+
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $72,630
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Live Oak
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    Live Oak Reviews

    10 reviews
    All Categories
    Live Oak is a wonderful, quiet residential community. There are many locally owned businesses within the neighborhood, including gyms and cafes. The neighborhood is in close proximity to the coast.
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    What I like about Live Oak is that it is a small populated town with diversity and closeness. For example, everyone in Live Oak knows each other and we tend to help each other when someone needs help. It is pretty quiet and calm in general.
    When it comes to crime Santa Cruz isn't in the top ten most dangerous cities but it still has its shortcomings. The sense of safety in most areas here is pretty high. The only area that I can think of being most vulnerable is probably the downtown area and the areas surrounding it. Around eight or nine is when you will hear the most commotion from the people that usually try to harass other bystanders. As I mentioned earlier the visibility with police is quite common but they are slow to respond. Other than that, Santa Cruz is quite peaceful and there aren't any other concerns.