At $3,686/mo, rent takes about 31% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,686 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($143,750) is $3,594 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($3,420); a 1-bedroom is $3,600.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Scotts Valley. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Scotts Valley, CA has changed in 5 years
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.
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At $3,686/mo, how Scotts Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Scotts Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Scotts Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Scotts Valley
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Scotts Valley is $3,686/mo as of October 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 31% 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.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Scotts Valley?
How does Scotts Valley rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Scotts Valley?
At $3,686/mo, rent takes ~31% of Scotts Valley's median household income ($143,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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