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Best Cities for Successful Aging | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
#114
OVERALL RANKING

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

SCORE: 67.13

#98
FOR AGES 65-79
SCORE: 67.76
 
#159
FOR AGES 80+
SCORE: 66.08
 
Percent of Population 65+:  12.16%
Population 65+:  32,420
Total Population:  266,508

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score		 Percent
+/-
General Livability 90 83.33 81.58 2.15 %
Health Care 235 41.09 50.15 -18.07 %
Wellness 7 82.62 68.45 20.70 %
Financial 235 74.66 81.09 -7.93 %
EducationEducation 34 69.86 71.18 17.93 %
Living ArrangementsArrange-
ments		 278 48.89 71.18 -31.31 %
Employment 65 58.08 51.56 12.65 %
Transportation/
ConvenienceTransport-
ation		 8 81.35 57.14 42.37 %
Community EngagementEngage-
ment		 228 45.17 51.89 -12.95 %
(Three-tier color code: 1-25 Green, 26-75 Black, 76+ Red)
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General Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Cost of Living 279 14.46 49.09
Crime Rate 187 35.21 42.85
Employment Growth (2007-2012) 39 84.65 80.67
Unemployment Rate 262 31.33 46.80
Income Distribution 229 79.17 84.25
Weather 3 92.85 62.27
Fatal Car Crashes 48 40.46 29.38

Health-Care Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Number of Doctors 30 48.66 33.5
Number of hospital beds 244 14.64 29.37
% of Hospitals with JCAHO Accreditation 1 100.00 79.11
Number of Long-Term Hospitals 57 0.00 6.57
Number of Hospitals with Geriatric Services 203 0.00 21.44
% of Hospitals with Rehabilitation Services 262 8.86 25.8
Number of Hospitals with Alzheimer's units 36 0.00 4.68
Number of Hospitals with Hospice Services 140 0.00 15.09
% of Hospitals with Medical School Affiliation 177 0.00 26.60
% of Magnet Hospitals 64 0.00 6.27
Number of Orthopedic Surgeons 119 12.16 13.35
Number of nurses 228 15.97 24.78
Number of Physical Therapists 60 2.62 2.35
ER Wait Times 63 31.82 24.64
 

Wellness Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Obesity rate 6 66.18 46.33
Smoking rate 6 40.88 13.69
Diabetes rate 18 58.12 41.83
Binge drinking 241 12.28 20.32
Alzheimer's cases 62 85.53 74.78
Caregivers 208 30.88 39.11
Life expectancy at 65 16 85.61 76.89
Depression 44 56.98 49.3
Physical activity 5 65.41 39.05
Fitness and recreational sports centers 23 62.62 42.27
Fast-food outlets 103 36.11 35.09
Golf courses, ski resorts 241 7.91 17.69
Air quality 60 69.62 61.2

Financial Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Banks and financial institutions 208 44.61 53.83
Total bank deposits 65 1.12 1.37
Tax burden 251 52.36 70.55
Dependency ratio 26 74.95 61.29
Small business growth 128 81.27 81.17
Older adults below poverty line 113 29.89 29.07
Capital gains 28 45.50 31.31
Income growth 25 65.19 60.52
Reverse mortgages 269 2.71 27.26
 

Living Arrangements Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Median house price 280 10.15 46.02
Median rental price 281 37.31 70.18
Households with older adults 182 36.69 39.04
Nursing beds 236 30.81 49.76
Cost of semiprivate nursing room 179 57.14 70.35
Home health-care service providers 251 4.55 14.31
Continuing-care facilities 108 13.57 14.8
Cost of assisted living 182 67.33 71.61
Nursing-home rating 127 22.22 22.29
Older adults in family homes 230 79.14 82.84
Cost of adult day services 183 45.45 55.7

Employment/Education Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Percent of 65+ employed 12 84.17 56.23
65+ unemployment Rate 180 18.78 31.34
Employment growth 143 43.97 44.29
Output of service sector/manufacturing 116 7.02 9.94
 

Transportation/Convenience Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Average commute time to work 261 58.40 71.39
Number of Passenger Trips 20 13.25 11.53
Investment in Public/Senior Transportation 12 48.54 64.25
% of commuters who walk to work 40 29.32 17.90
Number of Grocery, etc. 13 76.19 55.19
% of Seniors near grocery 84.52
Walk score 10 77.11 xx.52

Community Engagement Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Percent of population 65+ 205 25.43 39.94
Number of arts, entertainment, and recreation facilities 61 22.71 18.61
Senior volunteer rates 176 49.00 63.01
Number of public libraries 144 21.48 25.07
Number of civic and religious organizations 239 36.11 12.40
Funding for older adults 174 27.93 25.37
 

Education Indicators

Indicator Rank Score Average
Score
Educational attainment 42 92.75 85.93
College enrollment 37 41.71 26.46