Poverty incidence of Santa Cruz Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Banking and Financial sector is well developed in this town.

Two cinema houses (the Ebido and Mose) were previously serving the locals but due to high availability of recording media and online movies can now readily watched, the cinema houses eventually closed.

The town has both public and private educational institution, including those run by religious organizations, foundations and individuals.

The President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU) Sta Cruz Campus as part of Northern Cluster, formerly Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU) - Santa Cruz Campus is part of the PRMSU system operating in the whole Zambales Province, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in Educational Teaching and other courses.

Micro Asia College of Science and Technology - Santa Cruz campus offering primary, both junior and senior high school and college degrees in computer science and computer engineering likewise TESDA courses.