1 census tracts · pop 9,546 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 9.4/10
· range 9.4–9.4
University is a one-tract suburb of Santa Cruz, CA, population 9,546. It carries an Eviction Risk Score of 9.4/10, in the High tier. Against a Santa Cruz baseline of 32.5%, 60% of renters here cross the 30%-of-income line.
The severe-burden share is 33%. Those renters are past the 50% mark, and they miss rent for reasons that have nothing to do with willingness to pay. 93% of occupied units are rented, so comparables are plentiful and vacancy risk is low, but a mispriced renewal loses the tenant to a building two streets over.
The dominant input is tenant-organizing strength at 9.3/10. Average gross rent is $1,572, 36% below the Santa Cruz average of $2,452.
Running cool is supply constraint, at 1/10. The poverty rate is 25%. Judgments in high-poverty tracts are collectible far less often than the filing statistics suggest. Sitting well above the midpoint is rent-regulation exposure at 7.6/10.
Because the boundary contains one tract, 9.4/10 is simultaneously the area figure and the address-level figure. Scores move when the ACS release, the court-record feed, or the statute ledger behind them moves.
Risk score
9.4
High
1 tracts · population-weighted
University vs Santa CruzHow this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average
Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+
Racial/ethnic minority79%ile
Hispanic + non-white share of population
Housing & transport92%ile
Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle
CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted
Eviction-adjacent indicators in University
Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.
16.3%Housing insecurity
7.8%Utility shutoff threat
23.1%Food insecurity
16.1%SNAP enrollment
10.8%No health insurance
29.6%Any disability
Frequently asked
About University
Q1
What is the eviction-risk score for University?
University scores 9.4/10 (High tier) across 1 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.
Q2
How does University compare to Santa Cruz overall?
University scores 1.4 points higher than Santa Cruz overall (8/10). Renters spend 60% of income on rent vs 33% citywide. Average rent: $1,572 vs $2,452.
Q3
What is the average rent in University?
Average gross rent in University is $1,572/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 60% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Q4
What percentage of University residents are renters?
93% of University households are renter-occupied (vs 52% in Santa Cruz). The neighborhood has 9,546 residents.
Q5
Is University a high social-vulnerability area?
University sits in the 58th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.
Q6
How safe is University for landlords?
University carries a high-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (9.4/10). Pop-weighted across 1 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Santa Cruz as a whole (8/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.
Q7
What is the demographic breakdown of University?
University has 9,533 residents. Top groups: Hispanic / Latino (30.8%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (29.6%), White (non-Hispanic) (26.3%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.
