| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 1 | 61,398 | 64,178 | -0.65% | 4,819 | 13 | City |
| Watsonville | 2 | 50,344 | 52,471 | -0.73% | 7,419 | 7 | City |
| Scotts Valley | 3 | 11,539 | 12,223 | -0.97% | 2,499 | 5 | City |
| Capitola | 4 | 9,225 | 9,917 | -1.23% | 5,787 | 2 | City |
Santa Cruz is the largest city in Santa Cruz County, with a population of 61,398.
Capitola is the smallest city in Santa Cruz County, with a population of 9,225.
There are 4 cities in Santa Cruz County, California.