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CA area data

Santa cruz, CA

Aggregated across 3 ZIP codes in Santa cruz.

Population: 53,772 (Census ACS)

The median home value in Santa cruz, CA is $1.12M — up 6.9% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $1.39M after a median 19 days on market. Typical rent runs $3,520/month. 17 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with drought, earthquake, inlandflooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 13.3% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$1.12M

Median home value

+6.9%

1-year change

19

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$1.12M
1-year appreciation
+6.9%
3-year appreciation
+2.9%
5-year appreciation
+4.1%
10-year appreciation
+42.0%
All-time peak (2022-06)
$1.23M
House Price Index (state)
417.4 (-0.8% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$1.39M
Median list price
$1.50M
Median price per sqft
$958
1-year sale-price change
-1.3%
Median days on market
19 days
Homes sold (recent period)
30
For-sale inventory
88
Sale-to-list ratio
101.0%
Active listings
32
1-year forecast
-0.1%
New listings (monthly)
32

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$3,520/mo
1-year rent change
+5.6%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,495/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,869/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$2,330/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$3,029/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$3,495/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
113.3 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
17
Elementary schools
10
Middle schools
2
High schools
3
Charter schools
1
School districts serving the area
Live Oak Elementary, Santa Cruz City Elementary, Santa Cruz City High
Schools include
Green Acres Elementary, Live Oak Elementary, Shoreline Middle, Del Mar Elementary, Ocean Alternative Education Center

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
drought, earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, heatWave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively Low · drought: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone (varies by location)
includes X
Flood risk level
Minimal
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 79% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
36.7%
Radon potential (county)
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
1
Nearest Superfund site
Watkins-Johnson Co. (Stewart Division Plant) (2.9 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
59.0°F
Average high
70.0°F
Average low
48.0°F
Annual precipitation
21.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
10a (extreme annual low 30 to 35°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
36
Days with Good air quality
300
Days with Moderate air quality
64
Highest AQI recorded (year)
130

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
9.6 / 20
Transit service frequency
-49,484
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
13,111
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
13,353

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
8
Nearest national park
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (55 mi)
National parks include
Pinnacles National Park, Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
30
Nearest airport
Bonny Doon Village Airport (7 mi)
Nearest major airport
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) (23 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
364
Hospitals include
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH FACILITY, MIZELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
105
Solar radiation rating
Good (4.8 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-1,763 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,976
Housing built before 1970
35.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
12.4%
Median annual property tax
$6,283
Mean commute to work
19 min
Households with broadband internet
75.8%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
85,542
Average weekly wage
$1,194
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Agriculture
Annual residential building permits (county)
143

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Santa cruzState medianUS median
Median home value$1.12M$702,573$289,727
Median sale price$1.39M$696,000$325,000
Median days on market19 days39 days51 days
Typical rent$3,520/mo$2,767/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$6,283$4,533$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in Santa cruz, CA?
$1.12M.
What is the median sale price in Santa cruz, CA?
$1.39M.
How long do homes take to sell in Santa cruz, CA?
Median days on market: 19 days.
What is typical rent in Santa cruz, CA?
Typical rent: $3,520/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in Santa cruz, CA?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, earthquake, inlandFlooding, landslide, heatWave.
Is Santa cruz, CA in a flood zone?
Minimal (FEMA NFIP). Parts of the area include FEMA flood zone X; zones vary by location within the city.
What is the wildfire risk in Santa cruz, CA?
Risk to homes is higher than 79% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Santa cruz, CA?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Santa cruz, CA?
1 current or proposed National Priorities List site within 5 miles (EPA). Nearest site: Watkins-Johnson Co. (Stewart Division Plant), 2.9 mi.
How many schools serve Santa cruz, CA?
17 schools (10 elementary, 2 middle, 3 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is Santa cruz, CA walkable?
Walkability index: 9.6/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in Santa cruz, CA?
Good. Median AQI: 36. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Santa cruz, CA?
Regional Price Parity: 113.3 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in Santa cruz

Selling a home in Santa cruz, CA?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents