Santa Cruz County, California home prices
Typical home $1,136,188 · +4.8% in a year · property tax 0.64%
The typical home in Santa Cruz County is worth $1,136,188, 49% more than the California typical home ($761,538). Values changed +4.8% in the past year and +11.9% over five years. Homeowners here pay a median 0.64% of their home's value in property tax each year ($7,230 on the typical home), versus 0.72% statewide.
Mortgage on the typical Santa Cruz County home
| Down payment | Cash down | Loan | Principal + interest | PMI / MIP | Tax + insurance | Total / month | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% down | $227,238 | $908,950 | $6,115 | $0 | $1,171 | $7,285 | $312,200 |
| 10% down | $113,619 | $1,022,569 | $6,879 | $426 | $1,171 | $8,476 | $363,200 |
| 5% down | $56,809 | $1,079,378 | $7,261 | $450 | $1,171 | $8,881 | $380,600 |
| 3.5% down (FHA) | $39,767 | $1,115,609 | $7,505 | $503 | $1,171 | $9,178 | $393,300 |
Assumes a 30-year fixed loan at 7.11%, property tax of 0.64% of the home value a year, homeowners insurance of 0.6% a year, PMI of 0.5% of the loan a year when the down payment is under 20%, and FHA mortgage insurance of 0.55% a year plus a 1.75% upfront premium added to the loan. Your rate, taxes and insurance will differ.
What it takes: see what you can afford by salary in California · part of the Santa Cruz metro area.
California counties with similar prices
| County | Typical home | 1-yr change | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County | $1,174,873 | +3.2% | 0.66% |
| Alameda County | $1,044,951 | -0.4% | 0.78% |
| Santa Barbara County | $988,595 | +4.3% | 0.65% |
| San Diego County | $926,979 | +0.8% | 0.68% |
| San Luis Obispo County | $897,661 | +2.0% | 0.68% |
| Los Angeles County | $871,674 | +0.4% | 0.68% |
| Ventura County | $869,794 | +1.1% | 0.68% |
| Napa County | $869,491 | -1.0% | 0.69% |
| Monterey County | $841,129 | +1.2% | 0.63% |
| San Francisco County | $1,441,170 | +15.5% | 0.71% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average home price in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The typical home value in Santa Cruz County is $1,136,188 (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026).
How much do you need to earn to buy a house in Santa Cruz County?
About $312,200 a year for the typical home with 20% down at a 7.11% 30-year rate.
What is the property tax rate in Santa Cruz County?
The median effective rate is 0.64% of home value a year (Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates).