Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Scotts Valley, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 68.8% of gross income.

Scotts Valley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Scotts Valley median rent
$4,436/mo
Real Estate Agent salary (California)
$77,384/yr
Rent as % of income
68.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $6,449, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,935/mo in rent. Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436 exceeds that threshold by $2,501/mo, putting a real estate agent salary into the rent-burdened range here. A real estate agent works roughly 119.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a real estate agent salary

Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Scotts Valley, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:

Truckee, CA
$4,435/mo (68.8% of income)
Beverly Hills, CA
$4,433/mo (68.7% of income)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,433/mo (68.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scotts Valley

View full rent data for Scotts Valley, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a real estate agent afford rent in Scotts Valley, CA?

Median rent in Scotts Valley is $4,436 a month. A typical real estate agent in California earns about $77,384 a year, which makes that rent 68.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Scotts Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in California (~$77,384/yr) supports up to $1,935 a month in rent. Scotts Valley's current median rent is $4,436/mo, which is $2,501/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Scotts Valley?

At an hourly equivalent of about $37 an hour, a real estate agent in California works roughly 119.2 hours a month to cover Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436.

Where is rent cheaper than Scotts Valley for a real estate agent?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Truckee ($4,435/mo), Beverly Hills ($4,433/mo), Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,433/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived California state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Scotts Valley, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.