How much are property taxes in Santa Cruz, CA?
Homeowners in Santa Cruz, CA pay a median of $6,768 (±$503) a year in real estate taxes (2020–2024 American Community Survey, table B25103).
Homes with a mortgage pay a median of $8,538.
Homes without a mortgage pay a median of $4,063.
That is about 0.6% of the median home value of $1,209,000.
In Santa Cruz, the median real estate tax went from $4,911 in 2015–2019 to $6,768 in 2020–2024 (+37.8%).
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 .
- Median real estate taxes
- $6,768 (±$503)
- With a mortgage
- $8,538
- Without a mortgage
- $4,063
- Share of median value
- 0.6%
Real estate taxes in Santa Cruz against Santa Cruz County, its state and the nation
| Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz County | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes | $6,768 (±$503) | $6,538 (±$166) | $5,124 (±$17) | $3,119 |
| Homes with a mortgage | $8,538 (±$718) | $7,434 (±$226) | $5,839 (±$17) | $3,489 |
| Homes without a mortgage | $4,063 (±$584) | $4,595 (±$320) | $3,825 (±$19) | $2,576 |
| Median home value | $1,209,000 (±$34,264) | $1,027,500 (±$15,133) | $734,700 (±$1,307) | $332,700 |
In Santa Cruz, the median real estate tax is not measurably different from Santa Cruz County ($6,538).
It is also higher than in California ($5,124).
It is higher than the national figure ($3,119).
In Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz ranks 14 of 23 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median real estate taxes.
Statewide, it ranks 249 of 1,056.
Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.
Taxes as a share of home value in Santa Cruz
The median tax ($6,768) is 0.6% of the median home value ($1,209,000).
Across Santa Cruz County the same ratio is 0.6%.
Across California it is 0.7%.
This is a ratio of two medians, a rough effective rate: not the tax rate or mill rate the town, county or school district sets, and not any one home’s bill.
Owners report what they paid and what they think their home is worth; the assessor’s office publishes the actual rates and assessments.
How property taxes in Santa Cruz have changed since 2015–2019
| 2015–2019 | 2020–2024 | Amount of change | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median real estate taxes | $4,911 (±$282) | $6,768 (±$503) | +37.8% | Up after inflation |
| Median home value | $854,200 (±$14,620) | $1,209,000 (±$34,264) | +41.5% | Up after inflation |
| Median owner cost with a mortgage | $2,886 (±$117) | $3,888 (±$184) | +34.7% | 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 real estate taxes in places near Santa Cruz
| Place | Distance | Median real estate taxes | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | — | $6,768 (±$503) | — |
| Twin Lakes | 2.6 mi | $6,711 (±$1,696) | Not measurably different |
| Live Oak (community) | 3.1 mi | $6,952 (±$519) | Not measurably different |
| Pleasure Point | 3.7 mi | $7,178 (±$2,020) | Not measurably different |
| Capitola | 4.5 mi | $5,675 (±$683) | Lower |
| Soquel | 5.1 mi | $7,025 (±$850) | Not measurably different |
| Felton | 5.1 mi | $6,250 (±$663) | Not measurably different |
| Scotts Valley | 5.8 mi | $7,933 (±$889) | Higher |
| Seacliff | 6.4 mi | $8,396 (±$688) | Higher |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Capitola, CA ($5,675).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Scotts Valley, CA ($7,933), Seacliff, CA ($8,396).
Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.
Median real estate taxes across Santa Cruz County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Median real estate taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Pleasure Point | $7,178 (±$2,020) |
| 9 | Soquel | $7,025 (±$850) |
| 10 | Live Oak (community) | $6,952 (±$519) |
| 11 | Day Valley | $6,910 (±$1,226) |
| 12 | Aptos | $6,860 (±$702) |
| 13 | Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley | $6,802 (±$1,664) |
| 14 | Santa Cruz | $6,768 (±$503) |
| 15 | Twin Lakes | $6,711 (±$1,696) |
| 16 | Felton | $6,250 (±$663) |
| 17 | Ben Lomond | $6,102 (±$1,293) |
| 18 | Capitola | $5,675 (±$683) |
| 19 | Amesti | $5,331 (±$2,317) |
| 20 | Interlaken | $4,885 (±$642) |
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
How much are property taxes in Santa Cruz?
The median real estate tax paid by homeowners in Santa Cruz, CA is $6,768 (±$503) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
What is the property tax rate in Santa Cruz?
The Census Bureau does not publish tax rates; as a rough guide, the median tax paid is 0.6% of the median home value in Santa Cruz, and the actual rate is set by the town, county and school district.
Have property taxes in Santa Cruz gone up?
In Santa Cruz, the median real estate tax went from $4,911 in 2015–2019 to $6,768 in 2020–2024 (+37.8%).
Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.
Are property taxes in Santa Cruz higher than in Santa Cruz County?
In Santa Cruz, the median real estate tax is not measurably different from Santa Cruz County ($6,538).
It is also higher than in California ($5,124).
It is higher than the national figure ($3,119).
Sources
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz city, California
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz city, California
- Median Real Estate Taxes Paid by Mortgage Status (B25103), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz city, California
- Median Value (B25077), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz city, California
- Median Selected Monthly Owner Costs (B25088), 2015–2019 ACS 5-year estimates — Santa Cruz city, California
- Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, US Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages 2019 and 2024
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 B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M, B25088_002E, B25088_002M from the 2019 release.
The API needs a free key.
B25103_001E, B25103_001M, B25103_002E, B25103_002M, B25103_003E, B25103_003M, DP04_0089E, DP04_0089M
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 .
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