Cost of Living in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Santa Cruz County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Santa Cruz County ranks #1,709 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 46%)
Sourced county brief
Renter Median Income and Housing Costs in Santa Cruz County
The median income for renter-occupied households in Santa Cruz County was $33,394, based on ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. During this period, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 30.0%, which is 4.1 percentage points above the Arizona unweighted county mean of 25.9%. The median gross rent was $829 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $1,074. For owner-occupied units, the median monthly owner costs were $992, and the median home value was $233,000, below the state unweighted county mean of $265,720. These figures offer a statistical snapshot of housing and income data for the county. All percentage figures are reported on a 0-100 scale. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Santa Cruz County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.0% of renter household income in Santa Cruz County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $829 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $992. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $33,160 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Arizona unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,074 per month. Santa Cruz County's $829 median is 22.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Santa Cruz County
Rent Burden
18.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,288
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.6%
of gross income
The median home in Santa Cruz County may be a stretch
Median home value is $233,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,860 vs. your max of $1,288.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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