Finding The Best Family Neighborhoods In Santa Cruz
Searching for a place to live in Santa Cruz can be difficult
, especially if you are looking for a place that is going to suitable for not just yourself, but your family as well. Santa Cruz offers a variety of neighborhoods and communities. When looking for a family home to buy in Santa Cruz, consider safety, location, and your potential neighbors.
Safety
Safety is always of high importance to families buying homes. Oftentimes people turn to crime statistics when purchasing a home. According to Neighborhood Scout, the safest neighborhoods in Santa Cruz are Branciforte, Bonny Doon, Cliff Drive, Upper Park Road, High Street, Mission Street, Route1, Bay Street, and Crown College. Checking the crime rates can give you a starting point in your house hunt. It is also recommended that you take several drives through different neighborhoods at different times of the day and night. Note the visibility of police. Check that the community has a well funded and well trained police force and fire department. Also look for streets, parks, and schools that are well lit and taken care of.
Also look into safety issues that you cannot see. Look into current and past environmental hazards that could affect the health of your family. Hazards may include industrial dumping, pesticide or herbicide use, or air or ground pollution from commercial and industrial businesses. Although perfectly manicured lawns and gardens make neighborhoods look cared for and safe, it is worth investigating whether or not neighbors use pesticides or herbicides. These chemicals can leach into the soil or blow into neighboring yards and can be extremely dangerous to young children who like to play on grass.
Location/Walkability
From babies in strollers to teenagers going out to meet friends, the location of your family home is important. Flat, quiet streets with sidewalks or public ways designed for strollers and wheelchairs are features that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. These well-designed streets are great for learning to ride a bike on, for roller skating, for pushing a stroller on, or for wheelchair use. A few well-spaced trees are good for shade in the summer.
Young children will enjoy close proximity to parks and playgrounds. Older children and teenagers will appreciate being able to walk to schools, libraries, shopping, corner stores, tennis courts, beaches, restaurants, movie theatres, bus stops, community pools, movie theatres, and sports fields. Some people also look for the areas with close proximity to a hospital.
Your Neighbors
Most families wish to live near other families in communities with like-minded people. Look for communities that offer housing and recreational options for seniors and accessible high quality child care. Family-friendly neighborhoods contain well-maintained, family-friendly businesses and homes, host sports and cultural events, and offer a variety of organizations and places of worship. Look for a community that takes pride in its neighborhood. Look for schools where parent participation and presence is high.
Family Neighborhoods in Santa Cruz
Families in the Seabright neighborhood enjoy walks to the beach, museum, grocery stores, restaurants, the boardwalk, and down town. Seabright, with many young families, has an excellent elementary school and many streets that are suitable for bikes. Seabright and East Santa Cruz are considered the banana belt and are generally the warmest part of town. Many families live happily in West Side. Close to the University of California, Santa Cruz campus, West Side homes have nice yards and gardens, and are within walking distance to grocery stores, shopping, restaurants, and beaches.
by: Lauren Spencer
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