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Area data

Santa Cruz, CA — ZIP 95065

Population: 7,997 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in ZIP 95065 (Santa Cruz, CA) is $1.34M — up 4.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $1.45M after a median 38 days on market. 3 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with drought, earthquake, inland flooding the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 10.7% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

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

$1.34M

Typical home value

+4.6%

1-year change

38

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$1.34M
1-year appreciation
+4.6%
3-year appreciation
+4.5%
5-year appreciation
+12.5%
10-year appreciation
+63.1%
Peak value since 2000 (Jun 2022)
$1.40M
House Price Index (state)
423.4 (-0.3% YoY)

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

Market activity

Median sale price
$1.45M
Median list price
$1.29M
Median price per sqft
$674
1-year sale-price change
+8.8%
Median days on market
38 days
Homes sold (recent period)
17
For-sale inventory
21
Sale-to-list ratio
100.3%
Active listings
17
1-year forecast
+0.8%
New listings (monthly)
7

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

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$3,230/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$3,390/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$4,254/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$5,531/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$5,748/mo

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

Affordability

Cost of living index (High)
110.7 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
32.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$22.00/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

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

Schools

Total schools
3
Elementary schools
3
Middle schools
0
High schools
0
Avg student-teacher ratio
22.5 : 1
School districts serving the area
Happy Valley Elementary, Santa Cruz City Elementary, Soquel Union Elementary
Schools include
Happy Valley Elementary, De Laveaga Elementary, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
drought, earthquake, inland flooding, landslide, heat wave
Notable hazard ratings (county)
drought: Relatively High · landslide: Relatively High · earthquake: Relatively High · inland flooding: Relatively High · tsunami: Relatively Moderate · heat wave: Relatively Moderate
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 NFIP flood-insurance claims (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
30.6 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
9b (extreme annual low 25 to 30°F)

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

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
35
Days with Good air quality
320
Days with Moderate air quality
45
Highest AQI recorded (year)
71

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
4.8 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
8,771
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
9,274

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
4
Nearest national park
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (55 mi)
National parks include
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, Pinnacles National Park, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
10
Nearest airport
Bonny Doon Village Airport (8 mi)
Nearest major airport
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) (23 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
2
Hospitals include
DOMINICAN HOSPITAL, SUTTER MATERNITY & SURGERY CENTER OF SANTA CRUZ
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
105
Solar radiation rating
Good (5.0 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-1,763 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1977
Housing built before 1970
33.9%
Housing built 2000 or later
5.9%
Median annual property tax
$8,556
Mean commute to work
20 min
Households with broadband internet
87.2%

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

Employment & development

Total county employment
85,953
Average weekly wage
$1,280
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Agriculture
Annual residential building permits (county)
470

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

How it compares

ZIP 95065State medianUS median
Typical home value$1.34M$695,380$288,527
Median sale price$1.45M$696,000$325,000
Median days on market38 days39 days51 days
Median annual property tax$8,556$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 typical home value in ZIP 95065?
$1.34M.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 95065?
$1.45M.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 95065?
Median days on market: 38 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 95065?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $4,254/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 95065?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: drought, earthquake, inland flooding, landslide, heat wave.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 95065?
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 ZIP 95065?
Moderate radon potential — EPA Zone 2 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 95065?
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 ZIP 95065?
3 schools (3 elementary) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is ZIP 95065 walkable?
Walkability index: 4.8/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 95065?
Good. Median AQI: 35. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 95065?
Regional Price Parity: 110.7 (100 = US average) (High) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

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

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