Santa Cruz Real Estate Statistics 2026
The typical Santa Cruz County home is worth $1,136,188 in September 2026, up 4.8% from a year earlier, according to Zillow. Typical asking rent across all rental sizes is $3,469 a month.
Updated October 26, 2026 from 14 public sources
Santa Cruz County at a glance, September 2026
- Typical home value
- $1.14M
- Up 4.8% in a year
- Typical rent, all sizes
- $3,469
- Up 3.6% in a year
- 30-year mortgage rate
- 7.32%
- U.S. average on Oct 22, 2026
- Median household income
- $111,093
- 2024 survey, vs $99,122 statewide
- Resident jobs in Silicon Valley
- 1 in 5
- 20.6% are in Santa Clara County, 2023
- Population
- 261,069
- Jan 1, 2026, down 0.6% in a year
What does a home cost in Santa Cruz County in 2026?
$1,136,188
+4.8% vs Sep 2025
The typical Santa Cruz County home is worth $1,136,188 in September 2026, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. Zillow's index is up 4.8% from September 2025 and up 65.2% from September 2016.
Typical home value by month, 2016 to 2026
September 2026 $1,136,188
| Measure | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median asking price What sellers list at | $1,249,750 | Realtor.com, Sep 2026 |
| Median sale price What buyers paid | $1,146,667 | Zillow, Aug 2026 |
| Typical home value Estimate for all homes | $1,136,188 | Zillow, Sep 2026 |
| Owner-estimated value What owners report | $1,027,500 | Census ACS, 2024 |
Median sale price covers the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, which is Santa Cruz County.
| Town | Typical value | vs September 2025 | vs September 2016 | Median household income 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soquel | $1,356,238 | +$88,554 (+7.0%) | +$523,865 (+62.9%) | $118,777 |
| Santa Cruz | $1,338,649 | +$73,417 (+5.8%) | +$522,716 (+64.1%) | $115,475 |
| Aptos | $1,319,589 | +$37,225 (+2.9%) | +$502,270 (+61.5%) | $134,048 |
| Scotts Valley | $1,233,968 | +$32,047 (+2.7%) | +$450,248 (+57.5%) | $143,750 |
| Capitola | $1,228,511 | +$85,534 (+7.5%) | +$518,528 (+73.0%) | $102,976 |
| Davenport | $982,459 | +$14,111 (+1.5%) | +$247,888 (+33.7%) | $72,171 |
| Ben Lomond | $924,292 | +$43,305 (+4.9%) | +$328,104 (+55.0%) | $130,041 |
| Watsonville | $813,218 | +$12,070 (+1.5%) | +$297,694 (+57.7%) | $78,393 |
| Felton | $809,957 | +$44,734 (+5.8%) | +$276,542 (+51.8%) | $123,056 |
| Boulder Creek | $736,837 | +$9,585 (+1.3%) | +$184,275 (+33.3%) | $84,156 |
| Santa Cruz County | $1,136,188 | +$51,814 (+4.8%) | +$448,510 (+65.2%) | $111,093 |
Sources: home values from the Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026. Income from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates.
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Santa Cruz housing market statistics, September 2026
Santa Cruz County had 513 homes for sale in September 2026, 7.2% fewer than in September 2025, according to Realtor.com.
The typical home went under contract in 28 days in September 2026, according to Zillow.
Active listings by month, 2016 to 2026
September 2026 513
30-year mortgage rate by week, 2016 to 2026
October 22, 2026 7.32%
| Measure | Value | vs previous period | vs a year ago | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active listings Sep 2026 | 513 | +12 (+2.4%) | -40 (-7.2%) | Realtor.com |
| New listings Sep 2026 | 206 | +2 (+1.0%) | +10 (+5.1%) | Realtor.com |
| Price-reduced listings Sep 2026 | 202 | -2 (-1.0%) | +14 (+7.4%) | Realtor.com |
| Median listing price Sep 2026 | $1,249,750 | -$18,250 (-1.4%) | +$1,000 (+0.1%) | Realtor.com |
| Median listing price per sq ft Sep 2026 | $729 | +$4 (+0.6%) | -$6 (-0.8%) | Realtor.com |
| Median days on market Sep 2026 | 53 | No change | -11 (-17.2%) | Realtor.com |
| Median sale price Aug 2026 | $1,146,667 | +$25,000 (+2.2%) | -$41,333 (-3.5%) | Zillow |
| Median days to pending Sep 2026 | 28 | +4 (+16.7%) | -8 (-22.2%) | Zillow |
| Share of homes sold above list price Aug 2026 | 34.5% | +0.5 pts | +4.4 pts | Zillow |
| Median sale-to-list price ratio Aug 2026 | 99.5% | +0.1 pts | +0.7 pts | Zillow |
| 30-year mortgage rate Oct 22, 2026 | 7.32% | -0.08 pts | +1.13 pts | Freddie Mac |
Shares and rates change in percentage points (pts). Monthly measures compare with the previous month and the same month last year; the mortgage rate compares with the previous week and the same week last year. Zillow reports some market measures for August 2026, while its home values are for September 2026.
How much is rent in Santa Cruz County in 2026?
$3,469
+3.6% vs Sep 2025
Typical asking rent in Santa Cruz County is $3,469 a month across all rental sizes and types in September 2026, up 3.6% from September 2025, according to Zillow. HUD sets the fair market rent for a 2-bedroom home in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro at $4,254 for fiscal year 2027.
Typical rent, all sizes, 2016 to 2026
September 2026 $3,469
| Town | Monthly rent | vs September 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Aptos | $4,226 | +$338 (+8.7%) |
| Scotts Valley | $3,686 | n/a |
| Capitola | $3,459 | +$139 (+4.2%) |
| Santa Cruz | $3,418 | +$110 (+3.3%) |
| Watsonville | $3,332 | -$88 (-2.6%) |
| Boulder Creek | $3,113 | n/a |
| Soquel | $2,850 | n/a |
| Santa Cruz County | $3,469 | +$122 (+3.6%) |
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index, all rentals. Zillow has no rent index for Felton (95018) and Ben Lomond (95005). The HUD ZIP code table below covers them.
| Size | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $3,230 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,390 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,254 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,531 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,748 |
Source: HUD, Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro, fiscal year 2027, effective October 1, 2026.
| ZIP code | Monthly rent |
|---|---|
| 95060 Santa Cruz | $5,260 |
| 95062 Santa Cruz | $5,100 |
| 95065 Santa Cruz | $4,980 |
| 95003 Aptos | $4,920 |
| 95017 Davenport | $4,700 |
| 95066 Scotts Valley | $4,490 |
| 95010 Capitola | $4,480 |
| 95033 Los Gatos | $4,480 |
| 95005 Ben Lomond | $4,450 |
| 95018 Felton | $4,310 |
| 95041 Mount Hermon | $4,070 |
| 95073 Soquel | $4,070 |
| 95006 Boulder Creek | $3,980 |
| 95007 Brookdale | $3,940 |
| 95019 Freedom | $3,800 |
| 95064 UC Santa Cruz | $3,800 |
| 95076 Watsonville | $3,300 |
Source: HUD Small Area fair market rents for 2-bedroom homes. Each ZIP code gets its own figure, so a 2-bedroom in Felton and one in Aptos can differ.
How many Santa Cruz County residents work in Silicon Valley?
1 in 5
+0.3 pts vs 2022
Santa Cruz County residents hold 23,003 jobs in Santa Clara County, or 20.6% of their jobs, in 2023, according to Census LEHD data. 49.8% of resident jobs are inside Santa Cruz County.
- Santa Cruz County 49.8%
- Santa Clara County 20.6%
- Monterey County 5.8%
- Alameda County 4.2%
- San Mateo County 3.2%
- San Francisco 3.2%
- All other counties 13.2%
- Work from home
- 19.3%
- vs 17.2% statewide
- Average commute
- 25.7 min
- vs 28.7 min statewide
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024, employed residents.
Santa Cruz County jobs and wages, 2026
Unemployment in Santa Cruz County was 5.3% in August 2026 (preliminary), down 0.3 pts from August 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The average weekly wage for jobs in the county was $1,371 in Q1 2026, up 1.3% from Q1 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Unemployment rate by month, 2016 to 2026
August 2026 5.3%
| Job | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | $170,960 | 1,750 |
| Software developers | $156,910 | 540 |
| General and operations managers | $105,360 | 1,770 |
| Retail salespersons | $38,620 | 2,430 |
| All occupations | $54,730 | 98,500 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro. These wages count jobs located in the county, not residents who work outside the county.
Santa Cruz County population and household income
Santa Cruz County has 261,069 residents on January 1, 2026, 0.6% fewer than a year earlier, according to the California Department of Finance.
The median household income is $111,093, compared with $99,122 for California, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates.
| Year | Population January 1 | vs previous year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 261,069 | -1,624 (-0.6%) |
| 2025 | 262,693 | -677 (-0.3%) |
| 2024 | 263,370 | -208 (-0.1%) |
| 2023 | 263,578 | -271 (-0.1%) |
| 2022 | 263,849 | -1,860 (-0.7%) |
| 2021 | 265,709 | -5,152 (-1.9%) |
| 2020 April 1 census count | 270,861 | n/a |
Source: the California Department of Finance, E-4 population estimates. The newest year comes first.
| Town | Population | Median age | Median household income | Renters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 61,607 | 31.1 | $115,475 | 51.6% |
| Watsonville | 51,712 | 33.8 | $78,393 | 55.2% |
| Live Oak | 16,911 | 41.8 | $103,674 | 41.3% |
| Scotts Valley | 12,044 | 47.3 | $143,750 | 26.4% |
| Soquel | 10,679 | 42.7 | $118,777 | 27.3% |
| Capitola | 9,689 | 47.6 | $102,976 | 47.8% |
| Rio del Mar | 9,201 | 51.4 | $159,929 | 24.8% |
| Interlaken | 8,068 | 34.3 | $109,150 | 33.6% |
| Ben Lomond | 6,858 | 46.6 | $130,041 | 23.2% |
| Aptos | 6,404 | 45.7 | $134,048 | 28.9% |
| Pleasure Point | 5,489 | 47.2 | $119,821 | 40.5% |
| Twin Lakes | 5,073 | 37.7 | $90,087 | 59.2% |
| Boulder Creek | 4,632 | 47.9 | $84,156 | 23.5% |
| Felton | 4,093 | 45 | $123,056 | 23.5% |
| Santa Cruz County | 264,926 | 39.8 | $111,093 | 40.1% |
| California | 39,287,377 | 37.9 | $99,122 | 44.1% |
Source: the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates. Population in this table is the 2020 to 2024 average, so it differs from the January 1, 2026 state estimate above. Small places have large margins of error, so this table shows no year-over-year change.
Santa Cruz County school test scores, 2026
44.6% of Santa Cruz County students met or exceeded the state English standard in 2026, up 0.9 pts from 43.7% in 2025, according to the California Department of Education.
33.5% met the math standard in 2026, up 0.7 pts from 32.8% in 2025, according to the California Department of Education.
| District | English | vs 2025 | Math | vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Valley Elementary | 84.1% | +4.1 pts | 84.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Mountain Elementary | 73.7% | +4.9 pts | 66.7% | +4.2 pts |
| Scotts Valley Unified | 68.4% | -1.6 pts | 60.9% | +2.3 pts |
| Santa Cruz City High | 60.4% | -0.6 pts | 42.2% | +2.7 pts |
| Soquel Union Elementary | 54.8% | +0.7 pts | 39.3% | -2.8 pts |
| Santa Cruz City Elementary | 54.6% | -3.3 pts | 51.2% | +1.1 pts |
| San Lorenzo Valley Unified | 54.4% | -0.3 pts | 44.3% | -1.4 pts |
| Bonny Doon Union Elementary | 53.0% | -3.5 pts | 48.5% | -3.7 pts |
| Pacific Elementary | 48.8% | -6.9 pts | 43.9% | -16.8 pts |
| Live Oak Elementary | 47.4% | +0.9 pts | 36.4% | -1.2 pts |
| Pajaro Valley Unified | 27.9% | +1.6 pts | 18.5% | +1.0 pts |
| Santa Cruz County | 44.6% | +0.9 pts | 33.5% | +0.7 pts |
Source: the California Department of Education, CAASPP Smarter Balanced results and graduation rates. Changes are in percentage points (pts). Small districts test few students, so their scores move a lot each year. Graduation rates in 2025: Santa Cruz City High 94.8%, San Lorenzo Valley Unified 94.6%, Pajaro Valley Unified 92.3% and Scotts Valley Unified 88.2%, and 88.3% countywide.
Santa Cruz County crime statistics, 2021 to 2025
Six law enforcement agencies in Santa Cruz County reported 846 violent crimes and 3,536 property crimes in 2025, according to the California Department of Justice.
Property crimes are 29.8% lower than in 2021, and violent crimes are 19.4% lower than in 2021, according to the California Department of Justice.
Violent crimes per year, 2021 to 2025
2025 846
Property crimes per year, 2021 to 2025
2025 3,536
Since 2021, the California Department of Justice has collected these counts under two reporting systems and converted them to one format, so year-to-year changes are approximate.
| Agency | Violent | vs 2024 | Property | vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Police | 332 | -44 (-11.7%) | 1,549 | +6 (+0.4%) |
| Santa Cruz County Sheriff | 215 | -67 (-23.8%) | 844 | -151 (-15.2%) |
| Watsonville Police | 213 | +12 (+6.0%) | 501 | -94 (-15.8%) |
| Capitola Police | 41 | +18 | 320 | +45 (+16.4%) |
| Scotts Valley Police | 25 | -10 | 183 | -5 (-2.7%) |
| UC Santa Cruz Police | 20 | +9 | 139 | -27 (-16.3%) |
| All six agencies | 846 | -82 (-8.8%) | 3,536 | -226 (-6.0%) |
Source: the California Department of Justice, OpenJustice Crimes and Clearances. Yearly counts, not rates. Small agencies change a lot from year to year, so compare several years before reading a single year's change. Where an agency reported fewer than 50 crimes the year before, the change is a count only, without a percent.
Fire and flood zones in Santa Cruz County
In the state-managed rural areas of Santa Cruz County, CAL FIRE maps 169,700 acres as high fire hazard and 25,000 acres as very high, as of April 2024.
At the town center point, Boulder Creek, Davenport, Felton and Scotts Valley are mapped in high or very high fire hazard zones, according to CAL FIRE.
| Place | Fire hazard zone | FEMA flood zone |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder Creek | High | A, high risk |
| Davenport | High | X, minimal |
| Felton | High | X, minimal |
| Scotts Valley | High | X, minimal |
| Aptos Village | Moderate | X, minimal |
| Bonny Doon | Moderate | X, minimal |
| Capitola Village | Not in a fire hazard zone | AE, high risk |
| Downtown Santa Cruz | Not in a fire hazard zone | X, 0.2% chance |
| Watsonville downtown | Not in a fire hazard zone | X, 0.2% chance |
| West Cliff, Santa Cruz | Not in a fire hazard zone | X, minimal |
Sources: CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (state areas April 2024, local areas March 2025) and the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (flood zones checked October 23, 2026). In the flood column, 0.2% chance means a 0.2% chance of flooding in any year, minimal means a low flood hazard, and high risk means at least a 1% chance of flooding in any year. This is one point per town center; a house a few blocks away can be in a different zone. Hazard maps change rarely, so this section has no trend. Check the address before you buy.
Sources and update schedule
Every number comes from the original public source. The page refreshes when a source publishes new data.
Changes compare with a year ago for monthly data, with the nearest week a year ago for weekly data, and with the previous release for yearly data. The market table also shows the previous month, and the town home value table also compares with ten years ago. Shares change in percentage points.
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