| Metric | Latest | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Median listing price | $1.29M | -0.2% YoY |
| Median price per sq ft | $734 | 1,697 sq ft median |
| Median days on market | 48 | +8% YoY |
| Active listings | 468 | -23% YoY |
| New listings this month | 200 | June 2026 |
| Listings with a price cut | 16% | Share of active |
| Median sale price (closed) | $1.15M | -4.2% YoY |
| Sale-to-list ratio | 99.9% | Closed sales |
| Gross rental yield | 3.9% | 2BR fair market rent |
Metropolitan market · California · June 2026 data
Santa Cruz Real Estate Market
As of June 2026, the median home listed in Santa Cruz, CA asks $1.29M — down 0.2% year over year. Homes sell in a median of 48 days, with 468 active listings and 16% carrying a price cut — a balanced market. Figures come from public records and industry data, updated monthly.
Median listing price
$1.29M
▼ 0.2% YoY
Median $ / sq ft
$734
1,697 sq ft median
Median days on market
48
June 2026
Active listings
468
For sale now
New listings
200
June 2026
Listings with price cuts
16%
Share of active
Median sale price (closed)
$1.15M
▼ 4.2% YoY · closed sales
Sale-to-list ratio
99.9%
Closed sales
Homes sold / month
162
Closed sales
Santa Cruz housing market statistics
The table summarizes Santa Cruz's key housing figures for June 2026 — median listing and closed-sale prices, market pace, inventory and rental yield — each computed from public records and industry data.
How have home prices changed in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz home prices are down 0.2% year over year and -0.1% month over month as of June 2026, at a $1.29M median listing price. The chart tracks the trailing eight-quarter trend in the metro's median asking price.
Median listing price, Santa Cruz CA · trailing 8 quarters · source: public records and industry data.
The 10-year view
10-year median listing price, Santa Cruz CA · June of each year, 2017–2026 · source: public records and industry data.
How much inventory is on the market in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz has 468 active listings, 200 new this month, 194 pending as of June 2026. About 16% of active listings have cut their price, and inventory sits at 91% of its 2019 level — a balanced market by pace.
Is Santa Cruz a good real estate investment?
Santa Cruz scores 52/100 on WealthyBud's composite Investor Score, ranking #414 of 932 covered U.S. metros as of June 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat into one percentile. It is a research opinion, not advice.
Investor Score
52/100
#414 of 932 covered metros
Price volatility
High
σ 7.6% · 20-yr price-index swings
Santa Cruz scores 52/100 on our composite Investor Score (#414 of 932 covered metros), a percentile blend of momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market-heat readings; the metro's long-run house price index has it up 27% over five years and +58% over ten, leaving prices 26% above its own 2000–2019 trend; at the published FY2026 fair market rent of $4,214/mo for a two-bedroom, the gross rental yield on the median listing is about 3.9%; active inventory sits at 91% of its June 2019 level, so supply is still below pre-pandemic norms; listing prices are down 0.2% year over year; all against a national 30-year fixed mortgage rate of 6.43% (national weekly average, 2026-07-02).
Scores are percentile ranks (0–100) across all covered U.S. metros, computed from the public data cited on this page — formulas here. They are data-derived opinions, not investment advice. See how Santa Cruz ranks on the trending markets index.
How much is a monthly mortgage payment in Santa Cruz?
A home at Santa Cruz's $1.29M median listing runs about $6,494 a month in principal and interest — 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 6.43% national average rate. Taxes, insurance and HOA are extra.
If rates fall 1% · 5.43%
$5,831/mo
−$663/mo vs today
At today's rate · 6.43%
$6,494/mo
National weekly average
If rates rise 1% · 7.43%
$7,187/mo
+$693/mo vs today
Principal & interest on the $1.29M median listing with 20% down and a 30-year fixed loan — excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Current rate: 6.43% (national weekly average, 2026-07-02). Model a full deal in the deal analyzer.
What is driving the Santa Cruz housing market?
Longer-run demand in Santa Cruz shows up in 550 homes permitted in 2025; net migration of -2,053 residents; +0.2% job growth. Natural-hazard risk rates Relatively High. These federal supply-pipeline, migration and jobs signals shape where prices head next.
Building permits (2025)
550
▲ 145.5% vs 2024
2.1 per 1,000 residents
Net migration (2022–2023)
-2,053
▼ people, via tax-return records
net income flow −$9.42M/yr
Job growth (YoY)
+0.2%
▲ 102.2k nonfarm jobs · May 2026
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
National hazard index · top hazard: Earthquake
Based on public government records — building-permit, tax-return migration, employment and natural-hazard statistics, aggregated to the metro. Details on /methodology.
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What is the median home price in Santa Cruz?
As of June 2026, the median listing price in Santa Cruz, CA is $1.29M, down 0.2% year over year (source: public records and industry data). Figures cover the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area.
How much does it cost to buy a home in Santa Cruz?
The median home listed in Santa Cruz asks $1.29M as of June 2026. With 20% down on a 30-year fixed loan at the current 6.43% national average rate, that runs about $6,494 a month in principal and interest, before taxes, insurance and HOA.
How fast are homes selling in Santa Cruz?
The median property in Santa Cruz spends 48 days on the market, with 468 homes actively listed and 16% of them carrying a price cut — a balanced market by pace as of June 2026.
Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Santa Cruz?
With a median 48 days on market and 16% of active listings carrying a price cut, Santa Cruz reads as a balanced market as of June 2026. Faster sales and fewer price cuts favor sellers; slower sales and more cuts favor buyers. Conditions shift monthly.
Is Santa Cruz a good place to invest in real estate?
Santa Cruz scores 52/100 on WealthyBud's Investor Score, ranking #414 of 932 covered U.S. metros as of June 2026. The score blends price momentum, value, rental yield, supply and market heat. It is a data-derived research opinion, not investment advice.
Who are the top real estate agents in Santa Cruz?
See WealthyBud directories for the top-producing agents, teams and brokerages serving Santa Cruz and the wider California market, ranked by recent sales from public profile data.
Based on public records and industry data, June 2026 — see our methodology for how every figure is computed. Figures cover the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. Figures change monthly — verify current conditions with a local agent or MLS. Portions of market data courtesy of Realtor.com and Redfin; additional statistics from U.S. government sources.
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