Average Tax Assessment in Santa Cruz County
Real Estate Values and Property Tax Valuation in Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County has 70,208 properties with a cumulative value of $35.8B, representing 0.97% of all real estate value in California. Property taxes in Santa Cruz County totaled $474.6M, with an average homeowner paying $6,759 in property taxes compared to the state average of $5,946. The average property tax rate in Santa Cruz County is 1.33%, lower than the state average of 1.58%. Property taxes are calculated based on the assessed value of the property, which is typically lower than the market value.
The property tax timeline in California begins on January 1st, when the property valuation date is set. Property value notices are then issued between June and August. Property tax appeals must be submitted by September 15th or November 30th, depending on the county. Finally, property tax bills are issued on October 1st.
Updated November 01, 2023
| Important Links | |
|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Assessor | (520) 375-8030 |
| Santa Cruz Recorder | (831) 454-2800 |
| Santa Cruz Treasurer | (520) 375-7980 |
| Santa Cruz Treasurer / Tax Collector | (831) 454-2510 |
| Important Dates | |
|---|---|
| Property Valuation Date: | January 1st |
| Property Value Notices Issued: | June - August |
| Property Tax Appeal Deadline: | September 15 or November 30 (varies by county) |
| Property Tax Bills Issued: | October 1st |
| Real Property Tax Bill Due (1st of #): | December 10th, 1st half installment |
| Real Property Tax Bill Due (2nd of #): | April 10th, 2nd half |
| Available Exemptions | |
|---|---|
| Senior | Not Available |
| Disabled | Available |
| Homestead | Available |
| Veteran | Not Available |
| Solar/Wind | Available |
| Charitable | Available |
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Real Estate Statistics in Santa Cruz County
Residential Property Taxes by Cities in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County has an average property tax rate of 1.33%, which is slightly lower than the national average of 1.38%. This rate applies to all properties in the county, regardless of their location. However, the effective property tax rate can vary significantly across the cities in the county. For example, the city of Felton has the highest effective property tax rate at 1.41%, while the city of Mount Hermon has the lowest effective property tax rate at 1.24%. This means that property owners in Felton will pay more in property taxes than those in Mount Hermon.
Overall, Santa Cruz County has a relatively low property tax rate compared to other counties in the state. This makes it an attractive option for those looking to purchase property in the area. However, it is important to note that the effective property tax rate can vary significantly across the cities in the county, so it is important to research the rates in the area before making a purchase.
Tax Assessment Value
The following table shows the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile of property assessment value in each city in Santa Cruz County. The tax assessment value may differ from the potential sale value, and is used to calculate the property tax for each piece of real estate.
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos | $69,977 | $270,564 | $549,240 | $859,500 | $1,222,634 |
| Ben Lomond | $60,159 | $190,601 | $400,214 | $644,711 | $814,148 |
| Boulder Creek | $38,952 | $175,958 | $347,600 | $544,679 | $709,995 |
| Capitola | $34,278 | $143,763 | $396,378 | $699,824 | $1,047,064 |
| Felton | $43,942 | $177,577 | $358,597 | $568,696 | $746,694 |
| Freedom | $47,659 | $147,187 | $298,041 | $435,818 | $558,361 |
| Los Gatos | $90,581 | $284,101 | $666,122 | $1,046,871 | $1,428,135 |
| Mount Hermon | $24,749 | $101,608 | $270,792 | $529,901 | $666,582 |
| Santa Cruz | $45,514 | $171,235 | $435,920 | $776,448 | $1,086,137 |
| Scotts Valley | $51,068 | $225,839 | $535,407 | $852,477 | $1,104,729 |
| Soquel | $45,678 | $123,678 | $403,790 | $758,484 | $1,037,515 |
| Watsonville | $51,196 | $154,736 | $324,309 | $521,848 | $728,205 |
Property Tax Bill
This table shows the percentiles of actual property tax paid on residential properties for each city in Santa Cruz County.
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos | $2,527 | $4,560 | $7,410 | $10,636 | $14,668 |
| Ben Lomond | $1,508 | $3,009 | $5,352 | $8,138 | $9,921 |
| Boulder Creek | $1,506 | $2,978 | $4,975 | $7,110 | $8,917 |
| Capitola | $1,770 | $3,124 | $5,698 | $9,084 | $12,887 |
| Felton | $1,746 | $3,157 | $5,127 | $7,431 | $9,491 |
| Freedom | $1,418 | $2,392 | $3,971 | $5,555 | $6,803 |
| Los Gatos | $2,523 | $4,774 | $8,703 | $12,912 | $17,002 |
| Mount Hermon | $457 | $1,236 | $3,501 | $6,453 | $8,003 |
| Santa Cruz | $1,368 | $3,173 | $5,982 | $9,577 | $13,076 |
| Scotts Valley | $1,386 | $3,930 | $6,975 | $10,347 | $13,193 |
| Soquel | $776 | $2,821 | $5,824 | $9,585 | $12,623 |
| Watsonville | $1,141 | $2,492 | $4,319 | $6,606 | $9,089 |
Effective Property Tax Rate
The effective property tax rate is calculated by dividing the property tax bill by the assessed value. For the percentiles below, the calculation is performed using the percentiles for property tax bill and assessed value above. Therefore, each consecutive percentile doesn't necessarily show a larger value.
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos | 3.61% | 1.69% | 1.35% | 1.24% | 1.20% |
| Ben Lomond | 2.51% | 1.58% | 1.34% | 1.26% | 1.22% |
| Boulder Creek | 3.87% | 1.69% | 1.43% | 1.31% | 1.26% |
| Capitola | 5.16% | 2.17% | 1.44% | 1.30% | 1.23% |
| Felton | 3.97% | 1.78% | 1.43% | 1.31% | 1.27% |
| Freedom | 2.98% | 1.63% | 1.33% | 1.27% | 1.22% |
| Los Gatos | 2.79% | 1.68% | 1.31% | 1.23% | 1.19% |
| Mount Hermon | 1.85% | 1.22% | 1.29% | 1.22% | 1.20% |
| Santa Cruz | 3.01% | 1.85% | 1.37% | 1.23% | 1.20% |
| Scotts Valley | 2.71% | 1.74% | 1.30% | 1.21% | 1.19% |
| Soquel | 1.70% | 2.28% | 1.44% | 1.26% | 1.22% |
| Watsonville | 2.23% | 1.61% | 1.33% | 1.27% | 1.25% |
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Real Estate Values in Santa Cruz County
The data from Redfin shows that the median home price in Santa Cruz County decreased by 21.05% from October 2022 to October 2023. This indicates that the home prices in Santa Cruz County have been decreasing over the past year. Additionally, the home inventory in Santa Cruz County increased by 6.02% from October 2022 to October 2023, suggesting that there is an increase in the number of homes available for sale in the area. These trends suggest that the housing market in Santa Cruz County is becoming more affordable for buyers.
Average Home Value in Santa Cruz County, California
Last updated: November 2023
Percent Change in Total Home Sales in Santa Cruz County
Last updated: November 2023
Percent Change in New Home Listings in Santa Cruz County
Last updated: November 2023
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Mortgage Rates in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County is home to a large number of outstanding home mortgages, totaling $12.6 billion. This represents a significant portion of the total home value in the county, and is indicative of the strong housing market in the area. The number of outstanding loans in Santa Cruz County is 34.7K, which is a testament to the popularity of mortgages in the area.
The median mortgage rate in Santa Cruz County varies across cities, with Freedom having the highest rate at 4.8%, and Santa Cruz having the lowest rate at 4.8%. This variation in rates across cities allows borrowers to shop around and find the best deal for their needs. Overall, mortgages in Santa Cruz County are a popular and viable option for those looking to purchase a home.
Outstanding Mortgages
The table below shows the percentile distribution of outstanding loans on residential properties in Santa Cruz County by city.
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos | $62,753 | $151,198 | $316,851 | $522,060 | $751,084 |
| Ben Lomond | $68,817 | $158,103 | $295,901 | $486,043 | $661,626 |
| Boulder Creek | $70,401 | $154,491 | $289,182 | $472,601 | $637,092 |
| Capitola | $55,904 | $125,803 | $258,706 | $438,353 | $636,449 |
| Felton | $58,928 | $146,941 | $274,103 | $463,991 | $618,236 |
| Freedom | $48,832 | $124,900 | $204,560 | $337,967 | $508,330 |
| Los Gatos | $99,940 | $223,837 | $476,211 | $785,182 | $1,081,683 |
| Mount Hermon | $42,122 | $150,628 | $301,709 | $481,716 | $670,912 |
| Santa Cruz | $59,343 | $149,896 | $306,317 | $515,457 | $752,469 |
| Scotts Valley | $75,821 | $180,940 | $361,820 | $577,950 | $797,627 |
| Soquel | $60,887 | $147,403 | $310,058 | $512,714 | $745,615 |
| Watsonville | $52,106 | $124,797 | $223,812 | $365,191 | $544,748 |
Mortgage Rates
The following table shows the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile of mortgage rates in cities across Santa Cruz County.
| City | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aptos | 3.09% | 3.72% | 4.60% | 6.62% | 7.61% |
| Ben Lomond | 3.09% | 3.72% | 4.51% | 6.49% | 7.62% |
| Boulder Creek | 2.90% | 3.60% | 4.40% | 6.25% | 7.42% |
| Capitola | 3.10% | 3.76% | 4.60% | 6.57% | 7.63% |
| Felton | 3.00% | 3.70% | 4.51% | 6.37% | 7.64% |
| Freedom | 3.25% | 3.77% | 4.80% | 6.54% | 7.43% |
| Los Gatos | 3.00% | 3.60% | 4.48% | 6.37% | 7.62% |
| Mount Hermon | 2.93% | 3.60% | 4.33% | 6.86% | 7.64% |
| Santa Cruz | 3.10% | 3.81% | 4.80% | 6.75% | 7.64% |
| Scotts Valley | 3.00% | 3.64% | 4.50% | 6.29% | 7.49% |
| Soquel | 3.10% | 3.76% | 4.76% | 6.85% | 7.67% |
| Watsonville | 3.13% | 3.83% | 4.80% | 6.60% | 7.66% |
Housing Expenses in Santa Cruz County, California
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