Market Intelligence · CA / Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz, CA home prices and housing market

4 ZIP markets liveData updated September 2026Typical value$1.32M1-yr changeUp5.2%

The typical home value in Santa Cruz, CA is $1.32M as of September 2026, up 5.2% from a year ago, based on the Zillow Home Value Index. In the typical Santa Cruz ZIP code, the median list price is $1.42M and homes spend a median of 30 days on market as of September 2026 (Realtor.com).

The Home Value Pros Report

Santa Cruz housing market, on video

Key takeaways

  • The story in Santa Cruz this June is scarcity meeting sky-high prices.
  • There are only about 116 homes for sale, and just 58 new listings came on.
  • The typical home is worth about one million three hundred fifty thousand dollars, up roughly 3.6 percent over the past year, so values are still climbing at a steady pace.
Updated June 2026All city reports →
Read the transcript

The story in Santa Cruz this June is scarcity meeting sky-high prices. There are only about 116 homes for sale, and just 58 new listings came on. When supply is this thin, sellers keep leverage. The typical home is worth about one million three hundred fifty thousand dollars, up roughly 3.6 percent over the past year, so values are still climbing at a steady pace. But look at the gap between what homes are worth and what sellers are asking. The median list price sits near one million six hundred seventy thousand dollars, well above that typical value. That ambition is showing up in the numbers. Nearly 19 percent of listings have already cut their price, and homes are taking about forty-one days to sell. Here is what that means for you. Demand is real and inventory is scarce, but buyers at this price will not chase an inflated number. Price close to what your home is actually worth and you can sell quickly. Overreach, and you will likely join the homes cutting price after a month on the market.

Get a cash offer

Sell without the wait

Sell your Santa Cruz home for cash.

A competitive, no-obligation cash offer from our institutional network. No repairs, no showings, close on your timeline. Most sellers get their cash offer within 24 hours.

Not sure cash is the right move? Discuss your options with a licensed local pro, free.

12-month value trend

+5.2% over 12 months

Typical home value in Santa Cruz over the last 12 months: $1.26M in Sep 2025 to $1.32M in Sep 2026 (+5.2%).

Sep 2025$1.26M

Sep 2026$1.32M

Median Zillow home value index across Santa Cruz's ZIP codes.

The coverage

Santa Cruz, by the numbers.

Typical home valueZillow ZHVI, September 2026
$1.32M
1-yr changeMedian across Santa Cruz ZIPs
+5.2%
ZIP markets live6 tracked in Santa Cruz
4
County
Santa Cruz County

Need cash home buyers on your timeline? Sell my house fast in Santa Cruz.

Context

Santa Cruz remains a high-priced market, with a typical home value of $1,322,062 as of September 2026, up 5.2% over the past year. Sellers are asking for more, with a median list price of $1,424,500. There were 128 homes for sale in September 2026, with 66 new listings coming to market. Homes are moving at a measured pace, with a median of 30 days on market. About 24.0% of listings had a price cut, which suggests buyers have some room to negotiate even as values climb. For a homeowner weighing a sale, the data points to solid pricing power paired with buyers who are not willing to chase every asking price.

The numbers

What is the housing market like in Santa Cruz, CA?

Typical home value

$1.32M

Up5.2%YoY

Median list price

$1.42M

Days on market

30

Homes for sale

128

Price cuts

24.0%

New listings

66

Sources · Zillow ZHVI (September 2026) / Realtor.com (September 2026)

Figures reflect Santa Cruz's ZIP codes with market data: values and listing medians take the median across ZIPs; inventory and new listings are summed.

Prices over time

Santa Cruz, CA home prices over time

Typical home values in Santa Cruz, CA are up 5.2% over the past year, from $1.26M in September 2025 to $1.32M in September 2026.

Typical home value in Santa Cruz, CA, September of each year
MonthTypical value1-yr change
September 2026$1,322,062+5.2%
September 2025$1,256,913No prior year

Typical value is the median Zillow Home Value Index across Santa Cruz ZIP codes, taken in September of each year so every row compares the same month.

Market balance

Is Santa Cruz, CA a buyer's or seller's market?

Santa Cruz, CA leans toward a seller's market.

Homes are selling quickly, which usually gives sellers the stronger position.

Based on a median of 30 days on market and 24% of listings with a price cut in the typical Santa Cruz ZIP code, and 66 new listings against 128 active listings across Santa Cruz, as of September 2026 (Realtor.com).

The outlook

Santa Cruz housing market forecast 2027

+0.1%

Weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts, 12 months to September 2027

A weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts, across 4 Santa Cruz ZIP codes, points to typical home values holding roughly flat by September 2027 (up 0.1%).

Over the 12 months through September 2026, typical home values in Santa Cruz rose 5.2%, per the Zillow Home Value Index.

Will home prices drop in Santa Cruz?

Not by much, on the forecasts: a weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts for Santa Cruz shows typical home values holding roughly flat by September 2027 (up 0.1%), after a 5.2% rise over the past 12 months. Forecasts are not guarantees: mortgage rates, inventory, and the wider economy can move values either way.

How this is calculated: each ZIP code's 12-month Zillow forecast is weighted by its typical home value (Zillow Home Value Index, September 2026). 4 Santa Cruz ZIP codes have both figures.

Forecast: a weighted average of Zillow's ZIP forecasts (Zillow Home Value Forecast, published October 2026), calculated by Home Value Pros. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Free home value report

See what your Santa Cruz home is worth.

See your estimated value and a real cash offer, side by side. No obligation, about a minute.

Live markets

What ZIP codes are live in Santa Cruz?

Typical value is the Zillow home value index (ZHVI) for each ZIP, as of September 2026. 1-yr change compares it to the same ZIP a year earlier. We track 6 Santa Cruz ZIP codes in total; the remaining 2 publish as their data clears editorial QA.

Zillow ZHVI, September 2026

Free local consultation

Talk to a licensed pro in Santa Cruz.

A licensed local professional will walk through your numbers and your selling options, free and with no obligation.

Prefer to start online? See your value and cash offer instead.

Common questions

Questions about Santa Cruz, CA home prices.

How much is a home in Santa Cruz worth?

The typical home value in Santa Cruz is $1,322,062 as of September 2026, up 5.2% over the past year. The median list price is $1,424,500.

How long does it take to sell a home in Santa Cruz?

The median days on market in Santa Cruz is 30, as of September 2026. About 24.0% of listings had a price cut, so homes priced too aggressively may sit longer.

How much competition is there among Santa Cruz sellers?

There were 128 homes for sale in Santa Cruz as of September 2026, including 66 new listings. That gives buyers a meaningful set of options to compare.

Are home prices going up or down in Santa Cruz, CA?

Typical home values in Santa Cruz, CA are up 5.2% over the past year, based on the Zillow Home Value Index as of September 2026.

Is Santa Cruz, CA a buyer's or seller's market?

Santa Cruz, CA leans toward a seller's market. Homes are selling quickly, which usually gives sellers the stronger position. Based on a median of 30 days on market and 24% of listings with a price cut in the typical Santa Cruz ZIP code, and 66 new listings against 128 active listings across Santa Cruz, as of September 2026 (Realtor.com).

Nearby markets

More California housing markets.

The market is moving

Latest housing news

All news