Santa Cruz County property tax
California (CA) · West region · Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)
The median property tax in Santa Cruz County, California is $6,305 per year on a median home value of $1,015,200 — an effective property-tax rate of 0.62% (-42.5% versus the US average of 1.08%), below the US average effective rate. That is about 5.77% of the county's median household income of $109,266. Santa Cruz County ranks #55 of 58 counties in California and #2,249 of 3,133 nationally by effective rate (1 = highest).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
Santa Cruz County property tax at a glance
| Figure | Santa Cruz County, CA |
|---|---|
| Median property tax (per year) | $6,305 |
| Median home value | $1,015,200 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 0.62% |
| Versus US average rate | -42.5% (US avg 1.08%) |
| Median household income | $109,266 |
| Property tax as % of income | 5.77% |
| Population | 266,021 |
| Rank in California (1 = highest rate of 58) | #55 |
| National rank by rate (of 3,133) | #2,249 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates. Data as of June 2026.
How Santa Cruz County compares
The counties with the closest effective property-tax rate to Santa Cruz County:
| County | Median tax/yr | Effective rate | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County, CA (this county) | $6,305 | 0.62% | -42.5% |
| Bates County, MO | $962 | 0.62% | -42.5% |
| Surry County, NC | $1,033 | 0.62% | -42.5% |
| Wilkes County, NC | $1,003 | 0.62% | -42.5% |
| Woodward County, OK | $1,105 | 0.62% | -42.5% |
| Weber County, UT | $2,415 | 0.62% | -42.5% |
Other large counties in California: Los Angeles County (0.69%), San Diego County (0.70%). See the California property-tax page for the full county table.
Frequently asked questions
How much is property tax in Santa Cruz County, California?
The median property-tax bill in Santa Cruz County, California is $6,305 per year on a median home value of $1,015,200, an effective rate of 0.62% (Census ACS 2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)). That is -42.5% versus the US average effective rate of 1.08%. Your own bill depends on your assessed value and local rate.
What is the effective property-tax rate in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County's effective property-tax rate is 0.62% of home value, calculated as the median tax ($6,305) divided by the median home value ($1,015,200). That ranks #55 of 58 counties in California and #2,249 of 3,133 nationally (1 = highest).
Is property tax high in Santa Cruz County?
Santa Cruz County is low on property tax at 0.62% effective rate, below the US average effective rate. Property tax there is about 5.77% of the median household income of $109,266. These are ACS area medians; verify your situation with the county assessor.
How is the Santa Cruz County property-tax figure calculated?
It uses Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates: median real estate taxes paid (table B25103) and median home value (B25077) for owner-occupied homes in Santa Cruz County. The effective rate is the first divided by the second. It is an area median, not an official mill rate, and not your individual assessment.
Keep exploring
- California property tax — state overview & county table (state effective rate 0.72%)
- Highest property-tax counties · Lowest property-tax counties
- Property-tax estimator · All counties
Source & accuracy
Figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2019-2023 (ACS 2023 5-year)), US public domain: median real estate taxes paid (B25103) and median home value (B25077) for owner-occupied homes. The effective rate is the ratio of the two. These are area medians, not your individual bill — your tax depends on your home's assessed value, exemptions and your local rate. Verify with the Santa Cruz County assessor or tax collector. Data as of June 2026. See our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20