Santa Cruz County property tax, in one number.
The typical Santa Cruz County homeowner pays $6,538 a year on a $1,027,500 home. That's below the California rate (0.70%) and well below the U.S. rate (0.94%).
Estimate my taxSanta Cruz County at a glance
Five numbers that shape a typical property tax bill here.
Property tax calculator
Enter a home value to see a typical yearly bill at Santa Cruz County's average effective rate, or pick another area.
- Bills are rising faster than values.The median tax paid went from $4,013 in 2015 to $6,496 in 2024 (+62%), and home values changed +48%.
- 48th highest rate in California.Out of 56 California counties with full data. Nationally, the rate is higher than in 32% of U.S. counties.
- Mortgage holders pay more.Homes with a mortgage paid a median $7,434, versus $4,595 for homes owned outright, often because they're newer, higher-value or more recently reassessed.
The data, charted
Median tax paid & effective rate
Owners vs renters
Effective rate by city
Largest California counties
| County | Median tax | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside County | $4,348 | 0.78% |
| Los Angeles County | $5,675 | 0.68% |
| San Diego County | $5,774 | 0.68% |
| Orange County | $6,330 | 0.66% |
| Santa Cruz County | $6,538 | 0.64% |
| California | $5,124 | 0.70% |
Compare neighboring counties
Effective property tax rates in and around Santa Cruz County.
Cities and towns in Santa Cruz County
Places with at least 2,000 owner-occupied homes and reliable survey data.
- Santa Cruz0.56% · $6,768
- Watsonville0.64% · $4,375
- Live Oak0.68% · $6,952
- Scotts Valley0.72% · $7,933
- Soquel0.73% · $7,025
- Rio del Mar0.63% · $8,403
- Capitola0.72% · $5,675
Good to know
What is the property tax rate in Santa Cruz County?
The effective rate is about 0.64%. The median homeowner pays $6,538 a year on a home worth a median $1,027,500 (ACS 2020–2024). The legal tax rates set by each taxing unit are different numbers; the effective rate is what owners actually pay as a share of value.
How much is property tax on a $1,050,000 home in Santa Cruz County?
About $6,720 a year, or roughly $560 a month, at Santa Cruz County's average effective rate of 0.64%. Homestead, senior, veteran or other exemptions can lower the real bill, and a recent purchase or reassessment can raise it.
Why is my bill different from this estimate?
Your bill depends on your home's assessed value from the county assessor, the exact taxing units where you live (county, city, school district, special districts) and any exemptions you get. These figures are medians across all owner-occupied homes, not a bill for any address.
How current is this data?
It comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates for 2020–2024, the latest release. Homeowners report the taxes they paid, so the numbers lag current bills by one to two years. We update the site when the Census Bureau publishes new estimates each December.
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