RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · CA

Scotts Valley

Pop. 12,044·26th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$4,436/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+4.7%
vs US Median
+$2,471
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Scotts Valley rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Scotts Valley · $4,436
More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
37% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $4,436/mo, rent takes about 37% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$177,000/yr
Local median income
$143,750/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Scotts Valley's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$3,420
1 BR
$3,600
2 BR
$4,720
3 BR
$5,870
4 BR+
$6,270
Research median
$4,720/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$53,232/yr
At $4,436/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +4.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Scotts Valley, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 55.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
12,044
Median income
$143,750
Median age
47.3
Renters
26.4%
Age distribution
18.3%
16.2%
24.3%
18.1%
23.1%
Under 1818.3%
18–3416.2%
35–5424.3%
55–6418.1%
65+23.1%
Gender
49%
51%
Male49%
Female51%
Race & ethnicity
73.7%
17.3%
White73.7%
Black0.6%
Hispanic17.3%
Asian8.2%
Education (25+)
29.9%
55.6%
No HS diploma5.7%
HS diploma8.7%
Some college29.9%
Bachelor's+55.6%
Housing tenure
73.6%
26.4%
Owner73.6%
Renter26.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Scotts Valley, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$114,504 → $143,750
up 25.5%
Population
12,317 → 12,044
down 2.2%
Renter share
24.3% → 26.4%
+2.1 pts
Bachelor's+
52.3% → 55.6%
+3.3 pts
Median age
46.3 → 47.3
+1.0 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $143,750 today, compared with $114,504 five years earlier. Census counts show Scotts Valley, CA losing about 273 residents over the five-year window, down 2.2% on net. The renter share has risen from 24.3% to 26.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 52.3% to 55.6% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Scotts Valley

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Scotts Valley rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Scotts Valley on your salary?

At $4,436/mo, how Scotts Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Scotts Valley rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Scotts Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Scotts Valley

About renting in Scotts Valley, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Scotts Valley is $4,436/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,420/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,720/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,870/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($143,750/yr), Scotts Valley ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Scotts Valley an affordable city for renters?

Scotts Valley is considered moderate for renters. At $4,436/mo, rent takes approximately 37% of the local median household income ($143,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Scotts Valley slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Scotts Valley?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $177,000/year (~$85/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,436/mo in Scotts Valley. The local median household income is $143,750/yr, meaning the typical Scotts Valley household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Scotts Valley?

Rent in Scotts Valley has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Scotts Valley rent compare to other cities in California?

Scotts Valley is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #26 out of 387 tracked cities at $4,436/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Scotts Valley?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Scotts Valley ($4,436/mo): Capitola ($3,418/mo), Santa Cruz ($3,649/mo), Soquel ($3,863/mo).

What percentage of Scotts Valley residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 26.4% of Scotts Valley households are renters, while 73.6% are owner-occupied. Scotts Valley leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Scotts Valley rent compare to the national average?

Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436/mo is $2,471 (126%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #26 out of 387 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
37%
MODERATE

At $4,436/mo, rent takes ~37% of Scotts Valley's median household income ($143,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Scotts Valley 37%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Scotts Valley affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Scotts Valley
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Scotts Valley, CA

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Scotts Valley.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.