Land and home values in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County (metro core, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA) covers 445 square miles and 70 census tracts. Residential land is about $64.00 per sq ft at the county median, from $25.40 in its most rural tracts to $129 in its most valuable. The typical home is worth about $1.15M and a 2-bedroom rents for about $4,540 a month, as of October 12, 2026.
Open on the satellite mapAll of CaliforniaCounty values
| Land: residential | $64.00 | per sq ft |
| Land: residential | $2.79M | per acre |
| Land: quarter-acre lot | $696,960 | 10,890 sq ft |
| Land: farmland | $42,300 | per acre |
| Home: typical (median) | $1.15M | value |
| Home: entry-level | $798,000 | lower quartile |
| Home: upper-end | $1.53M | upper quartile |
| Build new | $177 | per sq ft, no land |
| Rent: 1-bedroom | $3,550 | per month |
| Rent: 2-bedroom | $4,540 | per month |
| Rent: 3-bedroom | $5,790 | per month |
| Rent: 4-bedroom | $6,090 | per month |
| Gross yield, 2-bed | 4.7% | a year |
Price tiers
| Tier | Tracts | Land $/sq ft | Typical home | Rent 2-bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top tier | 6 | $93.80 | $1.46M | $5,520 |
| Upper | 15 | $77.50 | $1.27M | $5,150 |
| Mid | 22 | $66.40 | $1.15M | $4,580 |
| Entry | 25 | $31.10 | $768,000 | $3,790 |
| Rural | 2 | $40.00 | $1.14M | $5,610 |
Tiers rank neighborhoods by home value within each metro area; outside metro areas they follow how built-up the land is. They describe prices only.
Cities and towns
Highest-value places
| Place | Type | Land $/sq ft | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes | Community | $122 | $982,000 |
| Pleasure Point | Community | $116 | $1.21M |
| Capitola | Town | $92.40 | $801,000 |
| Rio del Mar | Community | $84.40 | $1.37M |
| Davenport | Community | $81.10 | $969,000 |
| Seacliff | Community | $80.40 | $1.17M |
| Live Oak | Community | $74.40 | $1.04M |
| Santa Cruz | City | $73.30 | $1.24M |
Questions people ask
How much is land worth in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Residential land in Santa Cruz County, CA is about $64.00 per square foot, or $2.79M an acre, as of October 2026. A quarter-acre lot (10,890 sq ft) is about $696,960. Smaller lots sell for more per square foot and large tracts for less.
What is the typical home value in Santa Cruz County, CA?
The typical (median) home in Santa Cruz County, CA is worth about $1.15M, with entry-level homes around $798,000 and upper-end homes around $1.53M, as of October 2026.
How much is rent in Santa Cruz County, CA?
A 2-bedroom rents for about $4,540 a month in Santa Cruz County, CA, a 1-bedroom about $3,550 and a 3-bedroom about $5,790 (gross rent including utilities, HUD Fair Market Rent basis).
How much is farmland per acre in Santa Cruz County, CA?
Farmland averages about $42,300 an acre in Santa Cruz County, CA (USDA, including buildings), well below residential land.
Is this an appraisal?
No. Indicative values for screening, budgeting and negotiation, not an appraisal. For lending, a tax appeal or legal use, hire a state-licensed or certified appraiser.