What is the median household income in Santa Cruz, CA?

Name: Income and affordability in Santa Cruz, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The median household income in Santa Cruz, CA is $115,475 (±$6,419) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $2,452 a month would take about $98,100 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

In Santa Cruz, the median household income went from $77,921 in 2015–2019 to $115,475 in 2020–2024 (+48.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $115,475 (±$6,419)
Median renter income: $77,316 (±$8,183)
Income to afford median rent: about $98,100

Income in Santa Cruz against Santa Cruz County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz County	California	United States
Median household income	$115,475 (±$6,419)	$111,093 (±$2,734)	$99,122 (±$310)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$77,316 (±$8,183)	$80,482 (±$3,959)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$155,542 (±$15,368)	$139,862 (±$5,323)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$2,452 (±$128)	$2,264 (±$51)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Santa Cruz, median household income is not measurably different from Santa Cruz County ($111,093).

It is also higher than in California ($99,122).

It is higher than the national figure ($80,734).

In Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz ranks 14 of 23 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median household income.

Statewide, it ranks 318 of 1,069.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How much you need to earn to rent in Santa Cruz

Many landlords and housing programs use 30% of gross income as the most a household should spend on rent.

At that guideline, the median gross rent of $2,452 a month ($29,424 a year) needs an income of about $98,100 a year.

The median renting household in Santa Cruz earns $77,316 a year, less than that.

This is arithmetic on the published medians, not a rule any landlord must follow; screening criteria vary and some places limit how income may be weighed.

Income against housing costs since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median household income	$77,921 (±$4,367)	$115,475 (±$6,419)	+48.2%	Up after inflation
Median gross rent	$1,889 (±$51)	$2,452 (±$128)	+29.8%	No measurable change after inflation
Median home value	$854,200 (±$14,620)	$1,209,000 (±$34,264)	+41.5%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median household income in places near Santa Cruz

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Santa Cruz
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
Santa Cruz	—	$115,475 (±$6,419)	—
Twin Lakes	2.6 mi	$90,087 (±$7,591)	Lower
Live Oak (community)	3.1 mi	$103,674 (±$9,788)	Lower
Pleasure Point	3.7 mi	$119,821 (±$22,764)	Not measurably different
Capitola	4.5 mi	$102,976 (±$14,547)	Not measurably different
Soquel	5.1 mi	$118,777 (±$4,243)	Not measurably different
Felton	5.1 mi	$123,056 (±$14,247)	Not measurably different
Scotts Valley	5.8 mi	$143,750 (±$24,347)	Higher
Seacliff	6.4 mi	$130,385 (±$22,672)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Twin Lakes, CA ($90,087), Live Oak (community), CA ($103,674).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Scotts Valley, CA ($143,750).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median household income across Santa Cruz County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median household income
8	Aptos	$134,048 (±$16,517)
9	Seacliff	$130,385 (±$22,672)
10	Ben Lomond	$130,041 (±$13,062)
11	Felton	$123,056 (±$14,247)
12	Pleasure Point	$119,821 (±$22,764)
13	Soquel	$118,777 (±$4,243)
14	Santa Cruz	$115,475 (±$6,419)
15	Interlaken	$109,150 (±$21,375)
16	Amesti	$108,833 (±$24,953)
17	Live Oak (community)	$103,674 (±$9,788)
18	Capitola	$102,976 (±$14,547)
19	Freedom	$93,750 (±$41,363)
20	Twin Lakes	$90,087 (±$7,591)

Showing 13 of 23 places in Santa Cruz County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Santa Cruz

What is the median household income in Santa Cruz?

The median household income in Santa Cruz is $115,475 (±$6,419) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in Santa Cruz?

About $98,100 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $2,452 a month.

Have incomes in Santa Cruz kept up with inflation?

In Santa Cruz, the median household income went from $77,921 in 2015–2019 to $115,475 in 2020–2024 (+48.2%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

What do renters earn in Santa Cruz?

The median renting household in Santa Cruz, CA earns $77,316 (±$8,183) a year.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Santa Cruz city, California (place:69112, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B19013_001E, B19013_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M

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.