Santa Cruz vs Valpaços: which Norte town suits you?
Their January highs are within 1°C of each other (10°C and 10°C). Santa Cruz has fewer frosts and more doctors on foot; Valpaços has fewer rainy days, more pharmacies on foot and more cafés on foot.
Santa Cruz
3,430 peopleChoose Santa Cruz if you want
- Fewer frosts (9 frost days a year, against 22)
- More doctors and clinics within a 15-minute walk (3, against 0)
Valpaços
4,573 peopleChoose Valpaços if you want
- Car-light living: 4 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk and public transport close by
- Fewer rainy days (99 a year, against 110)
- More pharmacies within a 15-minute walk (4, against 1)
- More cafés within a 15-minute walk (5, against 2)
Side by side
Bold marks the better value where one is clearly better and both values are precise.
Climate
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| Measure | Santa Cruz | Valpaços |
|---|---|---|
| January high | 10°C | 10°C |
| January low | 3°C | 2°C |
| July high | 28°C | 29°C |
| Days above 35°C a year | 6 | 6 |
| Nights above 20°C a year | 11 | 6 |
| Frost days a year | 9 | 22 |
| Days with rain a year | 110 | 99 |
| Daylight on 21 December | 9 h 09 min | 9 h 10 min |
| Sea in August | – | – |
Daily life within a 15-minute walk
| Measure | Santa Cruz | Valpaços |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | 4 | 4 |
| Pharmacies | 1 | 4 |
| Doctors and clinics | 3 | 0 |
| Cafés | 2 | 5 |
| Restaurants | 6 | 17 |
Getting around
| Measure | Santa Cruz | Valpaços |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest train station | – | 45 km |
| Nearest bus station | 1.6 km | 0.4 km |
| Nearest hospital | 2.0 km | 0.4 km |
| Nearest beach | – | – |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | 58 km | 50 km |
Housing and safety (whole municipality)
| Measure | Santa Cruz | Valpaços |
|---|---|---|
| Median rent per m², per month | €4.84/m² | €3.08/m² |
| Sale price per m² | €1,205/m² | €699/m² |
| Sale price change, 5 years | +54% | +59% |
| Crimes recorded per 1,000 residents | 29.9 | 29.6 |
People
| Measure | Santa Cruz | Valpaços |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,430 | 4,573 |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.1% | 26.5% |
| Under 15 | 13.2% | 13.9% |
| Born in another country | 10.1% | 8.5% |
Natural hazards
| Measure | Santa Cruz | Valpaços |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquakes of M5+ within 100 km since 1900 | 0 | 0 |
Month by month
Town-level · ERA5-Land 1991-2020| High | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 10° | 12° | 15° | 17° | 20° | 25° | 28° | 28° | 24° | 19° | 13° | 10° |
| Valpaços | 10° | 12° | 15° | 17° | 21° | 25° | 29° | 29° | 25° | 19° | 13° | 10° |
The average highs are within 1°C of each other in every month.
Santa Cruz or Valpaços: common questions
Which is warmer in winter, Santa Cruz or Valpaços?
They are within 1°C of each other: average January highs of 9.9°C in Santa Cruz and 9.7°C in Valpaços.
Which has more shops within walking distance?
Both have 4 grocery stores within a 15-minute walk of the centre.
Which is closer to an airport?
Both use Vila Real Airport (VRL): 58 km from Santa Cruz and 50 km from Valpaços, in a straight line.
Cite or link
hexplace (2026). Santa Cruz vs Valpaços: climate, homes and daily life compared. https://hexplace.org/portugal/compare/santa-cruz-vila-real-vs-valpacos/