Is Santa Cruz County, CA good for real estate investing?

Santa Cruz County has an investment score of 37/100, rated as "Avoid". The county ranks #730 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Santa Cruz?

The rent-to-price ratio in Santa Cruz County is 3.77% annually, which ranks in the 3th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Santa Cruz?

The median home price in Santa Cruz County is $1,091,463. This ranks #994 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Santa Cruz?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Santa Cruz County would generate negative cash flow of $3,490/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Santa Cruz County

CaliforniaPopulation: 268,571

/100

Avoid

#730 of 1,000 counties

#35 in California (58 counties)

Market Snapshot

$1,091,463

Median Home Price

367% above national median

$3,433/mo

Median Rent

127% above national median

3.77%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 97% nationally

-$3,490

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$1,091,463

Down Payment (20%)$218,293

Loan Amount$873,170

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$3,433

Monthly P&I-$5,722

Est. Expenses (35%)-$1,201

Net Cash Flow-$3,490/mo

2.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-16.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

3.77%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

37/100

Cash Flow(30%)

27/100

Based on 3.77% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

57/100

Based on 0.7% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

9/100

Price-to-income ratio of 10.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (3.77%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$3,490/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 2.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
-High price-to-income ratio makes financing challenging

Economic Indicators

Population

268,571

Median Income

$104,409

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

10.5x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentSanta CruzCA	37	$1,091,463	$3,433	3.77%	Avoid
Contra CostaCA	37	$765,618	$2,790	4.37%	Avoid	View
San FranciscoCA	37	$1,245,307	$3,680	3.55%	Avoid	View
TrinityCA	36	$245,830	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
VenturaCA	36	$859,803	$2,941	4.11%	Avoid	View
Santa BarbaraCA	36	$959,051	$3,276	4.10%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidSanta Cruz may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Santa Cruz County in California scores 37/100, ranking #730 of 1,000 US counties (top 97%). The 3.77% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-3,490/mo

Cap Rate

2.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-16.7%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Santa Cruz?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$1,091,463

Down Payment (20%)$218,293

Loan Amount$873,170

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$3,433

Monthly P&I-$5,722

Est. Expenses (35%)-$1,201

Net Cash Flow-$3,490/mo

2.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-16.7%

Cash-on-Cash Return

3.77%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

37/100

Cash Flow(30%)

27/100

Based on 3.77% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

57/100

Based on 0.7% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

9/100

Price-to-income ratio of 10.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentSanta CruzCA	37	$1,091,463	$3,433	3.77%	Avoid
Contra CostaCA	37	$765,618	$2,790	4.37%	Avoid	View
San FranciscoCA	37	$1,245,307	$3,680	3.55%	Avoid	View
TrinityCA	36	$245,830	Est. pending	—	Avoid	View
VenturaCA	36	$859,803	$2,941	4.11%	Avoid	View
Santa BarbaraCA	36	$959,051	$3,276	4.10%	Avoid	View

The Bottom Line

AvoidSanta Cruz may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-3,490/mo

Cap Rate

2.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-16.7%