The Best Home Security Systems in Santa Cruz County, CA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Santa Cruz County, CA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Santa Cruz County, CA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Santa Cruz County every 1 hour 56 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Santa Cruz County experiences 16.57 property crimes per 1000 people and 7.618 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Santa Cruz County, CA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Santa Cruz County. The combination of a high amount of renters (35%) and education level (44% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Santa Cruz County, CA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Santa Cruz County, CA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Santa Cruz County, CA
Our analysis gives Santa Cruz County a property crime grade of: B-. Santa Cruz County is in the 39th percentile of safety, meaning 39% of cities in California are safer and 61% are more dangerous. Please visit our Santa Cruz County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the western part of Santa Cruz County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 39. Compare this to the eastern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 96.
A
A- |
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B- |
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Other Crime Grade |
A- |
A crime occurs every 52 minutes (on average) in Santa Cruz County, CA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Santa Cruz County safe? Compared to all of California, Santa Cruz County is rated safer than the average California county, which has a property crime rate of 37.66 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Santa Cruz County, with its burglary rate of 4.492 per 1000, is as safe as the average California county.
In addition, Santa Cruz County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Santa Cruz County, CA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Santa Cruz County, CA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
8.006 |
2,183 |
42.0 |
Vehicle Theft |
3.630 |
990 |
19.0 |
Burglary |
4.492 |
1,225 |
23.6 |
Arson |
0.4391 |
120 |
2.3 |
Weather and Climate in Santa Cruz County, CA
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Santa Cruz County, CA
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Santa Cruz County was built in 1973, which is older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in California build in 1977.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Santa Cruz County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Santa Cruz County, CA
Santa Cruz County, CA gets an average rainfall of 0.7" per year. This is higher than the average of 0.2" for California.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Santa Cruz County, CA
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Santa Cruz County is 50 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average California home that's 46 years old and more time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Santa Cruz County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Santa Cruz County, CA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Santa Cruz County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 35.28% (95,557) of people in Santa Cruz County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 64.72% or 175,304 of Santa Cruz County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 74% of people who commute an average of 34 minutes to work in or around Santa Cruz County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 9% of Santa Cruz County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Santa Cruz County tend to have a higher median household income than nearby counties, earning $109,341 annually. In addition, 43.6% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Santa Cruz County is $826,717. Compared to the median home value in California of $648,235, your home value will probably be higher. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Santa Cruz County, CA
There are 67 police stations within the boundaries of Santa Cruz County, and 20 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Santa Cruz County center, there are 188 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Santa Cruz County may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| County Of Santa Cruz 5360 Maretta Drive Soquel, CA 95073 (408) 353-9581 |
Capitola City Police Department 422 Capitola Avenue Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 475-4242 |
Capitola Police Department 422 Capitola Avenue Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 471-1170 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Santa Cruz County, CA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Santa Cruz County, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Benito County, CA | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Madera County, CA | C- | B | less safe |
| Morton County, KS | C- | C- | less safe |
| Seward County, KS | C- | C- | less safe |
| Beaver County, OK | A | B+ | more safe |
| Ottawa County, OK | B+ | C+ | more safe |
| Newton County, MO | C- | C | less safe |
| Lawrence County, MO | C+ | B- | less safe |
| Christian County, MO | D- | D+ | less safe |
| Douglas County, MO | C+ | C+ | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Santa Cruz County, CA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Santa Cruz County, CA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma County, AZ | B+ | B+ | more safe |
| Harrison County, MS | D | D | less safe |
| Hawaii County, HI | D+ | D+ | less safe |
| St. Louis County, MN | D- | D- | less safe |
| Sumner County, TN | A | A+ | more safe |
| Sussex County, DE | F | F | less safe |
| Trumbull County, OH | C- | C- | less safe |
| Tuscaloosa County, AL | B- | B | about as safe |
| Caddo Parish, LA | C | C- | less safe |
| Union County, NC | A+ | A+ | more safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Santa Cruz County, CA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Santa Cruz County, CA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Santa Cruz County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, ADT, and Ring have emerged as the top choices for Santa Cruz County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Santa Cruz County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 1 hour 56 minutes in Santa Cruz County.
- The county experiences 16.57 property crimes and 7.618 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Santa Cruz County's property crime grade stands at an 'B-', comparably safer than other California {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Santa Cruz County. The combination of a high amount of renters (35%) and education level (44% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 0.7" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 50 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 35.28% of Santa Cruz County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 74% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Santa Cruz County's higher household median income of $109,341 and 43.6% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Santa Cruz County hosts 67 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.