Housing by town in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County, California has 23 places with Census figures, and its median gross rent is $2,264 (±$51) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
40.1% of its households rent.
The median gross rent was $1,717 in 2015–2019 (+31.9%; Up after inflation).
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley has the highest median gross rent ($3,500 or more) and Freedom the lowest ($1,621).
Figures last updated on .
- Median gross rent
- $2,264 (±$51)
- Households that rent
- 40.1%
- Median household income
- $111,093
- Places
- 23
Cities, towns and townships in Santa Cruz County
| Place | Median gross rent | Households that rent | Median household income | Median home value | Median real estate taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amesti | $1,660 | 19.3% | $108,833 | $879,400 | $5,331 |
| Aptos | $2,059 | 28.9% | $134,048 | $1,093,300 | $6,860 |
| Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley | $3,500 or more | 21.1% | $158,788 | $1,185,000 | $6,802 |
| Ben Lomond | $2,514 | 23.2% | $130,041 | $960,700 | $6,102 |
| Bonny Doon | $1,838 | 22.8% | $144,813 | $1,201,900 | $8,688 |
| Boulder Creek | $1,907 | 23.5% | $84,156 | $849,900 | $3,955 |
| Brookdale | $1,814 | 54.8% | $87,358 | $881,700 | $7,703 |
| Capitola | $2,512 | 47.8% | $102,976 | $783,000 | $5,675 |
| Corralitos | $2,218 | 20.4% | $171,113 | $2,000,000 or more | $10,000 or more |
| Day Valley | $1,669 | 16.5% | $155,000 | $1,279,300 | $6,910 |
| Felton | $2,068 | 23.5% | $123,056 | $900,500 | $6,250 |
| Freedom | $1,621 | 43.4% | $93,750 | $755,300 | $4,656 |
| Interlaken | $1,941 | 33.6% | $109,150 | $831,000 | $4,885 |
| La Selva Beach | $3,379 | 21.6% | $160,833 | $1,325,700 | $8,750 |
| Live Oak (community) | $2,421 | 41.3% | $103,674 | $1,015,200 | $6,952 |
| Pleasure Point | $2,705 | 40.5% | $119,821 | $1,183,600 | $7,178 |
| Rio del Mar | $3,407 | 24.8% | $159,929 | $1,338,100 | $8,403 |
| Santa Cruz | $2,452 | 51.6% | $115,475 | $1,209,000 | $6,768 |
| Scotts Valley | $2,491 | 26.4% | $143,750 | $1,105,700 | $7,933 |
| Seacliff | $2,462 | 47.3% | $130,385 | $1,143,600 | $8,396 |
| Soquel | $2,266 | 27.3% | $118,777 | $957,300 | $7,025 |
| Twin Lakes | $2,344 | 59.2% | $90,087 | $959,100 | $6,711 |
| Watsonville | $1,889 | 55.2% | $78,393 | $686,000 | $4,375 |
HUD income limits, fiscal year 2026
| Household size | Extremely low (30%) | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $45,700 | $76,150 | $122,200 |
| 2 people | $52,200 | $87,000 | $139,650 |
| 3 people | $58,750 | $97,900 | $157,100 |
| 4 people | $65,250 | $108,750 | $174,550 |
| 5 people | $70,500 | $117,450 | $188,500 |
| 6 people | $75,700 | $126,150 | $202,500 |
| 7 people | $80,950 | $134,850 | $216,450 |
| 8 people | $86,150 | $143,550 | $230,450 |
How the places in Santa Cruz County rank across California
- California places ranked by median rent
- California places ranked by median home value
- California places ranked by median household income
- California places ranked by property taxes
- California places ranked by share of renters
- California places ranked by rent burden
- California places ranked by age of homes
- California places ranked by rental vacancy rate
- California places ranked by commute time
Crime reported to police in Santa Cruz County
| Year | Violent crimes | Violent per 100,000 | Property crimes | Property per 100,000 | Residents served | Departments reporting in full |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,090 | 415 | 3,578 | 1,363 | 262,564 | 5 of 5 |
| 2024 | 940 | 357 | 3,694 | 1,405 | 262,951 | 5 of 5 |
| 2025 | 831 | 320 | 3,465 | 1,334 | 259,789 | 5 of 5 |
In 2025, the police departments that report for Santa Cruz County recorded 831 violent and 3,465 property crimes, 320 and 1,334 per 100,000 residents.
Every department with residents of its own in the county reported every month that year.
The county figure adds up its city and town police, its sheriff and any state police with residents of their own; a university or transit force is left out, because the people it serves are already counted by the town around them.
The FBI asks that these figures not be used to rank places or to judge how safe a neighborhood is.
Police departments in Santa Cruz County, 2025
| Department | Residents served | Violent crimes | Property crimes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office | 125,144 | 220 | 865 |
| Santa Cruz Police Department | 62,473 | 333 | 1,580 |
| Watsonville Police Department | 51,037 | 212 | 507 |
| Scotts Valley Police Department | 11,731 | 25 | 187 |
| Capitola Police Department | 9,404 | 41 | 326 |
ZIP codes in Santa Cruz County
| ZIP code | Residents | Median gross rent | Median home value | Median household income | Households that rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95076 | 82,806 | $1,923 | $808,900 | $91,099 | 43.3% |
| 95060 | 46,268 | $2,454 | $1,207,200 | $108,591 | 48.5% |
| 95062 | 35,607 | $2,427 | $1,076,500 | $112,106 | 46.5% |
| 95003 | 24,951 | $2,731 | $1,198,700 | $148,412 | 29.4% |
| 95066 | 15,135 | $2,494 | $1,136,400 | $151,250 | 23.5% |
| 95073 | 11,639 | $2,073 | $1,062,800 | $118,169 | 26.7% |
| 95064 | 10,168 | $1,586 | $467,000 | $121,042 | 65.3% |
| 95033 | 9,600 | $3,500 or more | $1,417,200 | $189,118 | 23.3% |
| 95010 | 8,707 | $2,503 | $828,700 | $105,236 | 51.1% |
| 95065 | 7,997 | $2,746 | $1,228,500 | $153,222 | 28.3% |
| 95006 | 7,561 | $2,129 | $843,200 | $102,167 | 23.5% |
| 95005 | 7,277 | $2,279 | $967,300 | $104,375 | 28.1% |
| 95018 | 6,594 | $2,165 | $838,600 | $129,464 | 18.7% |
| 95019 | 5,933 | $1,447 | $735,200 | $67,474 | 70.3% |
| 95041 | 623 | $1,378 | $929,900 | $96,898 | 47.6% |
| 95017 | 616 | $1,592 | $953,100 | $102,625 | 62.4% |
| 95007 | 396 | $2,034 | — | $91,352 | 80.1% |
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Questions about Santa Cruz County
What is the crime rate in Santa Cruz County?
In 2025, the police departments that report for Santa Cruz County recorded 320 violent and 1,334 property crimes per 100,000 residents (831 violent and 3,465 property crimes in all).
Which place in Santa Cruz County has the highest rent?
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley has the highest median gross rent, $3,500 or more a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Which place in Santa Cruz County has the lowest rent?
Freedom has the lowest median gross rent, $1,621 (±$209) a month.
What is the median rent in Santa Cruz County, California?
The median gross rent in Santa Cruz County is $2,264 (±$51) a month (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
Sources
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz County, California
- Selected Economic Characteristics (DP03), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz County, California
- HUD Income Limits, fiscal year 2026: Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Crime Data Explorer
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting statistics and their proper use
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.
Figures last updated on .