Map the Block › Places › California › Watsonville
Watsonville, California by the numbers
FBI figures for 2025 show 4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 people in Watsonville, close to the rate across California (4.3). Median household income is $78,393 and the median home value is $686,000. Population: about 51,712 (Census, 2020-2024).
Last updated . Crime: FBI 2025. Income and housing: Census ACS 2020-2024. Road work: October 11, 2026.
Also on the map: income by neighborhood · home values · schools
What is the crime rate in Watsonville?
Watsonville's violent-crime rate for 2025 was 4.2 per 1,000 residents, based on 213 offenses reported to the FBI. For comparison, that is close to the California rate (4.3) and 27% higher than the national rate (3.3). The department recorded 1 murder. Property crime came to 501 offenses (9.8 per 1,000; California: 17.9). Compared with 2022, when 302 were reported, the count is down 29%.
| Offense (2025) | Watsonville count | Per 1,000 | California per 1,000 | U.S. per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crime | 213 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 3.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Rape | 26 | 0.51 | 0.33 | 0.36 |
| Robbery | 42 | 0.82 | 0.95 | 0.49 |
| Aggravated assault | 144 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| Property crime | 501 | 9.8 | 17.9 | 15.3 |
| Burglary | 48 | 0.94 | 2.8 | 1.9 |
| Larceny-theft | 332 | 6.5 | 12.0 | 11.4 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 121 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 2.0 |
How has crime in Watsonville changed since 2021?
| Year | Violent crimes | Property crimes | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | not reported in full | – | – |
| 2022 | 302 | 959 | 1 |
| 2023 | 296 | 726 | 6 |
| 2024 | 214 | 598 | 0 |
| 2025 | 213 | 501 | 1 |
Most crime never reaches the police, so these are reported crimes, a floor rather than the full count. In 2024 about half of violent crimes (48%) and about 3 in 10 property crimes (31%) were reported to police (U.S. Justice Department, National Crime Victimization Survey). Rates also depend on how completely each agency reports to the FBI. City figures are the Watsonville Police Department's own reports.
How does Watsonville compare with California?
The median household income in Watsonville is $78,393, 21% lower than the California median ($99,122). The median owner-occupied home is worth $686,000 by owners' estimates, and half of renters pay more than $1,889 a month. About 51,712 people live on 7 square miles of land, roughly 7,620 per square mile. The city lies in Santa Cruz County.
| Census ACS 2020-2024 | Watsonville | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 51,712 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
| Median household income | $78,393 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $686,000 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median gross rent | $1,889 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Unemployment rate (2020-2024 average) | 7.7% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| People below the poverty line | 14.7% | 12.0% | 12.5% |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 37.1% | 35.7% |
| Homeowner households | 44.8% | 55.9% | 65.2% |
| Median age | 33.8 | 37.9 | 38.9 |
What environmental sites and hazards are in Watsonville?
Santa Cruz County carries a “Relatively High” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: river flooding (Relatively High) and earthquakes (Relatively High). The index compares counties with each other and also weighs how vulnerable and resilient a community is, so it is a long-run estimate, not a forecast.
Is there road construction in Watsonville?
The state DOT feed had no interstate, U.S. or state highway work zones in Watsonville city limits on October 11, 2026. Some states publish only part of their road work in open feeds, so check the state's 511 site before you travel. The map's layer refreshes every morning.
See today's work zones on the map →
How many schools, nursing homes and parks are in or near Watsonville?
Inside the city limits there are 21 public schools (2024-25) and 1 private schools (2023-24). 3 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes are in the city. Within about 15 miles: 16 state parks or recreation areas: Dunes State Park, Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Lighthouse Field State Beach, Manresa State Beach and Marina State Beach and 11 more.
Gun shops, liquor stores and Planned Parenthood in Watsonville
Gun shops
One gun shop with a public storefront is on the map inside the Watsonville city limits. On the ATF list: Markleys Indoor Range & Gun Shop (Watsonville).
Liquor stores
8 liquor stores are on the map inside the Watsonville city limits: Cork & Bottle (Watsonville), E Lake Food & Liquor (Watsonville), Georges Liquor Store (Watsonville), Lalo's Liquors (Watsonville), Lulus Fiesta Liquors (Watsonville), Town & Country Liquors (Watsonville), U-Save & Liquor (Freedom) and Watsonville Fiesta Liquor (Watsonville).
Planned Parenthood
One Planned Parenthood health center is on the map inside the Watsonville city limits: Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (Watsonville).
See them on the map: gun shops · liquor stores · Planned Parenthood →
Sources: ATF licensee list (Sept 2026); state liquor licence lists, OpenStreetMap and Overture Maps (non-official); HHS Title X directory and CMS NPPES.
Common questions
What is the crime rate in Watsonville?
In 2025, Watsonville had 4.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (213 reported), close to the California rate (4.3). The property-crime rate was 9.8 per 1,000 (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting).
What is the median household income in Watsonville?
$78,393 (Census American Community Survey, 2020-2024), compared with $99,122 for California.
How much do homes cost in Watsonville?
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $686,000 (Census ACS 2020-2024), against $734,700 statewide.
What natural hazards affect Watsonville?
Santa Cruz County carries a “Relatively High” overall rating in FEMA's National Risk Index. Of the seven hazards on our map, FEMA rates these highest: river flooding (Relatively High) and earthquakes (Relatively High).
Nearby cities
Gilroy, CA (12 mi) · Santa Cruz, CA (15 mi) · Salinas, CA (18 mi) · San Jose, CA (26 mi) · Cupertino, CA (31 mi) · Santa Clara, CA (32 mi)
More: California statewide numbers · county page: Santa Cruz County · Sex-offender registry search (NSOPW)
Where do these numbers come from?
- Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, agency counts 2021-2025 (Return A); state and national rates: FBI estimated crimes.
- Income, housing, education: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year, table B19013 (median household income) and related tables, for the Census place Watsonville city.
- Land area: Census 2024 Gazetteer. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), county scores (county level).
- Superfund: U.S. EPA, Superfund site boundaries and NPL status (October 2026). Dams: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Inventory of Dams (public map service, October 2026).
- Work zones: State departments of transportation, via the U.S. DOT Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx) and state 511 feeds; refreshed every morning (snapshot October 11, 2026).
- Schools: National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE public school locations 2024-25; budgets: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2024; National Center for Education Statistics, EDGE Private School geocodes (Private School Survey 2023-24). Nursing homes: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Nursing Home Provider Information and Penalties (September 2026).
- Parks: USGS Protected Areas Database of the U.S. (PAD-US 4.1); state park agencies' open data (CA, NY, PA, TN, TX, FL, NJ, KY, HI, UT, MT and others); OpenStreetMap contributors for some hours, phones, fees and camping; U.S. National Park Service: unit boundaries (Land Resources Division), Acreage Report (Sept 30, 2026), park pages on nps.gov (hours, fees), Visitor Use Statistics (2025).
Map the Block shows public statistics about places, not people, and does not rate or rank neighborhoods as places to live. Figures are as published by each source; check the source before relying on a number.
Home · Open the map · All places · About the data · Privacy · Terms