While nearly everybody moves off campus after sophomore year, living off campus is, by no means, entirely convenient. Santa Cruz was built as a small town that wasn’t prepared to withstand or support a large university. Although the town has expanded, there can still be a housing crunch at times. When students happen to stumble across a good house in Santa Cruz, they tend to stay with it for the rest of their time here. The most expensive and competitive houses are the ones that run along the bus line to campus. Otherwise, a car and an on-campus parking pass, while also expensive, may come in handy.
Most UCSC students prefer living off campus because of the added freedom that comes along with it. Students feel like they are part of the community of Santa Cruz if they live downtown. Campus is on a hill far above the city, so on-campus students don’t have the same connection to the actual town as students who live off campus. On campus, you may be close to class, but off campus is closer to the parties, the bars, more quality restaurants, and the better beaches. Most importantly, living off campus is, believe it or not, cheaper than living in the dorms. Don’t get the wrong impression, though—it is really expensive to live in Santa Cruz, and some people say it is the least-affordable town in the United States. You have to spend some time searching for a good place, and many people explore numerous living options before settling down. On the other hand, some people find affordable housing really easily to come by. Often, the houses you can find in Santa Cruz are nice, sometimes close to the beach or the bars, or are situated in really great neighborhoods. Just don’t get too comfortable and forget to go to class.