CallataGuidesSanta Cruz, CA business phone guide
Population, businesses by sector and industry, area codes and local numbers for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area.
- Population
- 262,0002024 est.
- Establishments
- 7,136CBP 2023
- Counties
- 1
- Area codes
- 1
About the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area covers 1 county in California and had 262,000 residents in July 2024, down 3.6% since April 2020. The U.S. population grew 2.6% over the same period. By population it ranks 193rd of the 925 metro and micropolitan areas and 168th by business establishments.
| County | Population (2024) |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 262,406 |
Source: Census Vintage 2024 metropolitan and micropolitan area estimates.
Santa Cruz, CA's business base
County Business Patterns counted 7,136 establishments in the area in 2023, employing 80,209 people in mid-March with $5.0 billion in annual payroll. That is an average of 11.2 employees per establishment. 56.1% of establishments with employees had fewer than five people. By establishment count, the largest sectors are health care and social assistance (959), professional, scientific, and technical services (910), and construction (899).
| Sector (NAICS) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance (62) | 959 | 14,755 | $1,087,344,000 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54) | 910 | 5,218 | $574,312,000 |
| Construction (23) | 899 | 4,692 | $348,867,000 |
| Retail Trade (44) | 809 | 11,709 | $462,676,000 |
| Accommodation and Food Services (72) | 726 | 12,475 | $384,238,000 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) (81) | 607 | 4,425 | $206,828,000 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing (53) | 413 | 1,585 | $92,049,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56) | 387 | 3,977 | $230,306,000 |
| Manufacturing (31) | 278 | 4,775 | $352,629,000 |
| Finance and Insurance (52) | 264 | 2,428 | $240,772,000 |
| Wholesale Trade (42) | 260 | 4,437 | $349,605,000 |
| Educational Services (61) | 179 | 2,462 | $101,361,000 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71) | 156 | 2,744 | $107,384,000 |
| Information (51) | 114 | 1,017 | $99,038,000 |
| Transportation and Warehousing (48) | 103 | 1,583 | $78,638,000 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises (55) | 28 | 1,593 | $197,589,000 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (11) | 21 | 101 | $7,199,000 |
| Utilities (22) | 12 | 197 | $31,096,000 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (21) | 6 | 27 (high noise) | $2,455,000 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023, two-digit NAICS sectors. Manufacturing, retail and transportation span several two-digit codes; CBP reports them under 31, 44 and 48.
Santa Cruz, CA compared with the U.S.
Santa Cruz, CA has 27.2 business establishments per 1,000 residents, 10.6% above the U.S. figure of 24.6. Establishments average 11.2 employees against 16.7 nationally, and payroll per employee is $61,778 (9.6% below the U.S. $68,342). 56.1% of establishments with employees have fewer than five people (U.S.: 55.5%), while 3.8% have 50 or more. Averages are pulled up by large employers; the size table is the better guide to what a typical business here looks like.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 4,005 | 56.1% | 55.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 1,325 | 18.6% | 17.5% |
| 10–19 employees | 960 | 13.5% | 12.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 575 | 8.1% | 9.1% |
| 50 or more employees | 269 | 3.8% | 5.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Small-business industries in Santa Cruz, CA
Of the 141 industries these guides cover, 125 have a published Census count in Santa Cruz, CA. The largest are full-service restaurants (235), residential remodelers (216), and limited-service restaurants (206). Relative to population, wineries are the most over-represented: 8.4 per 100,000 residents against 1.3 nationally.
Selected small-business industries (six-digit NAICS) covered by these guides. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Area codes in Santa Cruz, CA
The area's named cities and towns have 106 NANPA-assigned exchanges across 1 area code; 831 has the most (100%). Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a business serving several parts of the area can hold a number in each.
| Area code | Exchanges in named places | Share | Time zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 831 | 106 | 100% | Pacific |
Exchanges in rate centers matched to Census places in the area. Source: NANPA.
Local numbers by city
Pages for 2 cities and towns in the area list their area codes, prefixes and carriers.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz, CA | 62,581 | 831 | 76 |
| Watsonville, CA | 51,320 | 831 | 30 |
Phone costs for a typical Santa Cruz, CA business
An 11-person team is the benchmark here, the rounded average establishment size in Santa Cruz, CA. Billed per seat at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026), RingCentral RingEX Core costs $330.00 a month and Ooma Office Pro $274.45. Callata comes to $219.00 a month for 11 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $219.00 | $2,628.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $209.00 | $2,508.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $253.00 | $3,036.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $274.45 | $3,293.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $297.00 | $3,564.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $330.00 | $3,960.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Callata in Santa Cruz, CA
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Santa Cruz, CA is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
What area codes serve Santa Cruz, CA?
831, by NANPA-assigned exchanges in the area's named places.
How many businesses are in the Santa Cruz, CA area?
7,136 establishments in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns.
How much does a business phone system cost in Santa Cruz, CA?
Callata is $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user; for an 11-person team that is $219.00 a month. The same team on Ooma Office Pro lists at $274.45 a month (checked September 28, 2026).