House Charts

Santa Cruz, CA Housing Market: Home Prices & Rent

Updated September 2026 data · metro area
Santa Cruz, CA home values are up 4.8% over the past year, to a typical $1.14M - 3% below the June 2022 peak. Typical rent is $3,469 a month (+3.7% in a year).
Typical home value
$1.14M
+4.8% (+$52k) in 12 months
From the peak
-3%
Peak $1.18M, Jun 2022
Since Dec 2019
+43%
from $792k
Typical rent
$3,469/mo
+3.7% in 12 months
Income needed to buy
$295k/yr
20% down, 30% of income
Days to go under contract
53
September 2026

Santa Cruz, CA home values since 2000

$250k$500k$750k$1,000k$1,250k2000200420082012201620202024Peak $1,176k (Jun 2022)Now $1,136k

Last few years

$800k$900k$1,000k$1,100k$1,200k20192020202120222023202420252026Peak $1,176k (Jun 2022)Now $1,136k

Rent in Santa Cruz, CA

$2,000$2,500$3,000$3,500201520172019202120232025Now $3,469

Owning vs renting, monthly

Buying the typical Santa Cruz, CA home with 20% down at this week's 7.32% 30-year rate costs about $7,664/month (principal, interest plus ~1.5% a year for tax and insurance) vs $3,469/month typical rent.

Rate: Freddie Mac, week of Oct 22, 2026. Estimate for comparison only.

Santa Cruz, CA vs California vs the U.S.

Typical home12-month changeTypical rent
This metro$1.14M+4.8%$3,469/mo
California$762k+0.6%-
United States$366k+1.2%$1,932/mo

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Common questions

Are home prices falling in Santa Cruz, CA?

No - the typical Santa Cruz, CA-area home value is up 4.8% over the past 12 months, at $1.14M (September 2026). Values are 3% below their June 2022 peak of $1.18M.

Is the Santa Cruz, CA housing market crashing?

Home values are 3% below their June 2022 peak and up 4.8% over the past year - a rising market, not a sudden collapse. Whether that continues isn't knowable from the data - this page updates every month when new figures come out.

How much is rent in Santa Cruz, CA?

Typical rent in the Santa Cruz, CA metro is $3,469 a month (September 2026), +3.7% over 12 months.

How much income do you need to buy a home in Santa Cruz, CA?

About $295k a year to afford the typical home with 20% down, spending no more than 30% of income on housing (September 2026).

Nearby and similar metros

Los Angeles, CA · San Francisco, CA · Riverside, CA · San Diego, CA · Sacramento, CA · San Jose, CA · San Luis Obispo, CA · Oxnard, CA · Napa, CA · Honolulu, HI

Sources: Data Provided by Zillow Group (Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index, September 2026; income needed and listing data). 30-year mortgage rate: Freddie Mac PMMS. Figures are for the Santa Cruz, CA metro area. How we calculate.