Uprootmap
Santa Cruz vs Stockton
Santa Cruz and Stockton
Photo: Quintin Soloviev / Wikimedia, CC BY 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
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So you know: homicide deaths in Stockton are above the US rate in this release, 9.5 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Santa Cruz to Stockton
In 2022-2023, 58 households filed a move from Santa Cruz to Stockton (about 89 people, average adjusted gross income $64,879). 50 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $1,674 in Stockton. Santa Cruz has a state tax on wages. Stockton has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Stockton is 94% of the national level for the same work, against 98% in Santa Cruz.
Stockton averages 251 sunny days, with July highs around 95°F and January nights around 43°F. Santa Cruz is 247 sunny days, 77°F in July, 44°F in January. Commutes average 35 minutes in Stockton and 27 in Santa Cruz.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
+$807 / mo
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 58 households moved Santa Cruz → Stockton (about 89 people, average AGI $64,879). 50 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Santa Cruz and Stockton changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 91 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$3,050
- Container or pod
- $1,100–$2,050
- Rent a truck
- $400–$700
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Dig into Stockton
Questions
Is Stockton cheaper than Santa Cruz after tax and rent?
Yes. Stockton leaves about $807 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $2,638 in Santa Cruz and $1,674 in Stockton.
Does Stockton have state income tax?
Stockton is in California, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Santa Cruz to Stockton?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.