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Watsonville, CA
City in Santa Cruz County, California. ZIP codes: 95019.
Population
51,712
Land area
6.8sq mi
People per sq mi
7,620
ZIP codes
1
Watsonville and its ZIP codes
Watsonville at a glance
- Watsonville is about 30 times as dense as California as a whole.
- It is the 182nd most populous of 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- Households here earn a median of $78,393 a year, 21% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $686,000 (7% below California) and median rent is $1,889 a month.
Local data for Watsonville, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Watsonville, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$78,393
Poverty rate
14.7%
Median home value
$686,000
Median rent
$1,889/mo
Homeownership
44.8%
Bachelor's or higher
12.4%
Median age
33.8
Average commute
26.1 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (40,544), German Americans (1,340), Irish Americans (1,253).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Santa Cruz County. PPP loans are for Watsonville.
Unemployment rate
5.3%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$70,123
104,438 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$93,580
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$1.8B
FY 2026, $6,663 per person
PPP loans
$9.4M
110 loans, 1,288 jobs reported
How people get to work
Watsonville, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone70.8%
- Carpooled16.0%
- Public transit1.4%
- Walked1.3%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.9%
- Worked from home6.4%
Average one-way commute: 26.1 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Watsonville, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
659
Countywide, mostly strong wind
Flood insurance policies
2,095
2.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
71° / 40°F
22.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone7 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Watsonville, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.0%
U.S. 33.3% -1.3 pts
Diabetes
13.7%
U.S. 12.1% +1.6 pts
Smoking
13.7%
U.S. 12.8% +0.9 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
22.7%
U.S. 11.1% +11.6 pts
ZIP codes in Watsonville
1 in or overlapping Watsonville. Population shown
Cities near Watsonville
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| PajaroCensus-designated place | 1.8 mi | 0.9 |
| FreedomCensus-designated place | 2.5 mi | 1.1 |
| InterlakenCensus-designated place | 2.7 mi | 9.8 |
| AmestiCensus-designated place | 2.8 mi | 2.9 |
| Las LomasCensus-designated place | 3.9 mi | 1 |
| Pajaro DunesCensus-designated place | 4.1 mi | 2.6 |
| La Selva BeachCensus-designated place | 4.2 mi | 5.3 |
| Aptos Hills-Larkin ValleyCensus-designated place | 4.5 mi | 9.3 |
| CorralitosCensus-designated place | 5.5 mi | 8.9 |
| Rio del MarCensus-designated place | 6.6 mi | 3 |
| AromasCensus-designated place | 7.3 mi | 4.7 |
| ElkhornCensus-designated place | 7.6 mi | 4.8 |
| Moss LandingCensus-designated place | 8 mi | 0.4 |
| AptosCensus-designated place | 8.7 mi | 6.6 |
| SeacliffCensus-designated place | 9.4 mi | 0.7 |
| Day ValleyCensus-designated place | 9.4 mi | 18.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Watsonville, CA in?
- Watsonville is in Santa Cruz County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in Watsonville, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Watsonville include 95019.
- What is the population of Watsonville, CA?
- About 51,712 people live in Watsonville, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Watsonville?
- Nearby places include Pajaro (1.8 mi), Freedom (2.5 mi), Interlaken (2.7 mi), Amesti (2.8 mi), Las Lomas (3.9 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023