Cost of Living in Santa Cruz County, California
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 #3,120 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Santa Cruz County Median Gross Rent Reaches 2,264 Dollars
In Santa Cruz County, the median gross rent is $2,264 per month, a figure that is $573 above the California unweighted county mean of $1,691. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 31.1%, which is 0.6 percentage points lower than the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median home value in the county was estimated at $1,027,500, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $604,112. Renter households earn a median income of $80,482. For those owning homes, median selected monthly owner costs are $2,437, which is $556 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,881. These values are derived from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. 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 31.1% 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 $2,264 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,437. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $90,560 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 California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Santa Cruz County's $2,264 median is 33.9% above 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
24.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,592
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.3%
of gross income
The median home in Santa Cruz County may be a stretch
Median home value is $1,027,500. Estimated monthly cost: $8,203 vs. your max of $2,592.
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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