Santa Cruz, California Property Taxes
Real Estate Values and Property Tax Valuation in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz has 25,181 properties with a cumulative value of $13.6B, making up 38.03% of all real estate value in Santa Cruz County. Property taxes in Santa Cruz totaled $178.5M, with an average homeowner paying $7,089 in property taxes compared to the county average of $6,759. The average property tax rate in Santa Cruz is 1.31%, while the county average is 1.33%. Property taxes are based on the assessed value of the property, which is determined by the local assessor.
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 August 23, 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, California
Residential Property Tax by ZIP code in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz property taxes are relatively low compared to the rest of Santa Cruz County. The average property tax rate in Santa Cruz is 1.31%, while the average Santa Cruz County property tax rate is 1.33%. This difference is small, but it does indicate that Santa Cruz residents pay slightly lower taxes than the rest of the county.
Property tax rates in Santa Cruz vary across ZIP codes. The ZIP code with the highest effective property tax rate is 95062, with a rate of 1.36%, while the ZIP code with the lowest effective property tax rate is 95060, with a rate of 1.27%. This variation is due to differences in home values across ZIP codes. In general, higher home values lead to higher property tax rates. Therefore, residents of ZIP codes with higher home values will pay higher property taxes than those in ZIP codes with lower home values.
Tax Assessment Value
The following table shows the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile of property assessment value in each ZIP code in Santa Cruz, California. 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.
| ZIP Code | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95060 | $45,352 | $176,117 | $450,804 | $798,962 | $1,133,284 |
| 95062 | $43,421 | $151,655 | $411,618 | $750,810 | $1,056,332 |
| 95065 | $68,901 | $227,085 | $495,038 | $786,801 | $1,002,782 |
Property Tax Bill
This table shows the percentiles of actual property tax paid on residential properties for each ZIP code in Santa Cruz, California.
| ZIP Code | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95060 | $1,336 | $2,972 | $5,887 | $9,606 | $13,239 |
| 95062 | $1,198 | $3,262 | $5,964 | $9,560 | $13,129 |
| 95065 | $2,007 | $3,938 | $6,800 | $9,715 | $12,064 |
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.
| ZIP Code | 10th Percentile | 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95060 | 2.95% | 1.69% | 1.31% | 1.20% | 1.17% |
| 95062 | 2.76% | 2.15% | 1.45% | 1.27% | 1.24% |
| 95065 | 2.91% | 1.73% | 1.37% | 1.23% | 1.20% |
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Real Estate Values in Santa Cruz, California
Average Home Value in Santa Cruz, California
Last updated: August 2023
Average home value over time in Santa Cruz, California
Last updated: August 2023
Total unique home listings in Santa Cruz, California
Last updated: August 2023
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Housing Expenses in Santa Cruz, California
Housing expenses are a major part of the average household budget in the state. In fact, housing expenses account for nearly one-third of total expenses for the average household. As inflation continues, housing expenses continue to rise, eating up an ever-increasing portion of the household budget. Property taxes are the second largest component of housing expenses for the average property owner in the state, making up a significant portion of the total housing expenses. As housing expenses continue to rise, it is important for households to budget carefully and plan for the future to ensure they can afford their housing expenses.
Monthly Consumer Expenses for West region
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