Santa Cruz, CA Housing Market
Median List Price
$1,479,000
Updated August 2026
Today, Santa Cruz has 123 homes for sale at a median list price of $1,479,000, typically selling in about 83 days.
Santa Cruz Market Analysis
Santa Cruz, CA currently shows a median list price of $1.5M. There are 123 homes currently listed for sale in Santa Cruz, CA. 45 new listings came on the market in the last 30 days.
One bedroom homes are the most affordable tier at a median of $549,000, while five bedroom homes top the range at $3.1M. The housing stock skews toward single family homes, at about 74.0% of active listings, with condos accounting for another 17.9%. Over the last six months, the median price has risen about 29.2%, from $1.1M in February to $1.5M in July. Median pricing works out to $825 per square foot.
Median time from listing to accepted offer is about 13 days. Homes move quickly at that pace, which favors sellers and rewards buyers who come prepared. The area spans the 95060, 95062, and 95065 ZIP codes.
Santa Cruz Rental Market
Santa Cruz, CA currently shows a median asking rent of $8,000. There are 4 homes currently listed for rent in Santa Cruz, CA. Over the last six months, the median rent has risen about 54.7%, from $3,200 in December 2025 to $4,950 in July 2026.
Santa Cruz Market Pulse
Topfind Market Read
The picture is mixed here. Sale prices are up 13% over the last six months and 2% over the past year, yet the typical home takes about 83 days to sell, and 37% of sellers have trimmed their asking price, so neither side holds a clear advantage. Realistic pricing wins for sellers, and patient, prepared buyers can secure fair terms.
Median Home Price
$1.48M
↑ 2% over the past yearChart shows the median closed sale price by month
Months of Supply
Estimated time to sell all listings at the current sales pace
3.7 months of supply
Balanced Supply123 active listings currently on the market.
What this means for buyers
Supply and demand are roughly in step, with a steady flow of options and no glut. Listings typically sell in ~83 days.
Sales Velocity
How fast homes are selling
Homes are sitting on the market, so buyers often have strong leverage to negotiate price, terms, and repairs. The trend is moving the other way though, with selling times down 39% over the last six months.
Inventory Distribution
A solid share of current listings is under 30 days old, while a meaningful share has been up longer.
About 46% of current listings are under 30 days old, while the rest have been up longer.
Housing Tenure in Santa Cruz
Renting is more common here than statewide, so this market has more rental inventory and shorter-term residents.
48%
Homeowners
52%
Renters
Homeownership is 7.5 points lower than the California average (55.5%)
21,669 households (2023)
Median Price by Bedroom
Larger homes command significantly higher prices, with sharp increases beyond 3 bedrooms.
Each additional bedroom adds about $800K in value on average, with larger homes seeing bigger price jumps.
Largest increase: 4 → 5 bedrooms (+$1.1M)
Price Reductions
45 listings have reduced their price
37% of active listings
Average reduction: 10.1% (~$149K)
Browse Santa Cruz Listings
Frequently Asked Questions about the Santa Cruz, CA Housing Market
What is the median home price in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median list price in Santa Cruz is $1,479,000 as of August 2026, based on 123 active listings.
Is Santa Cruz a buyer's market or a seller's market?
Santa Cruz currently reads as a balanced market. Active inventory works out to about 3.7 months of supply at the recent sales pace.
How fast do homes sell in Santa Cruz?
Homes that closed in the last 90 days typically went under contract in about 13 days. The average home currently for sale has been on the market for 83 days.
Are home prices in Santa Cruz going up or down?
The median sale price in Santa Cruz is up about 1.5% compared with a year ago.
How many homes are for sale in Santa Cruz, CA?
There are 123 homes for sale in Santa Cruz right now, including 14 listed within the last week.
What is the median rent in Santa Cruz?
The median asking rent in Santa Cruz is $8,000 per month, across 4 active rental listings.