ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 95060

Part of Santa Cruz, CA

Pop. 46,268·Santa Cruz County·239th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,312/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.7%

Month-over-Month

+1.2%

vs US Median

+$1,380

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 95060 · $3,312

More expensive than 94% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,417

1 BR

$2,503

2 BR

$3,200

3 BR

$4,081

4 BR+

$4,295

Research median

$3,200/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in ZIP 95060 usually run 2% below trend in December and 1.5% above it in July, about $116 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 95060 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2019.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 95060 changed +4.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 95060 rose 37% while median household income rose 38.6% ($78,344 to $108,591). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 95060 is 40.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($108,591) is $2,715 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($3,950).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 95060. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$39,744/yr

At $3,312/mo median

Location

CitySanta Cruz

StateCA

CountySanta Cruz County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.7% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.7% YoY, +1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 95060 (Santa Cruz, CA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 54.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

46,268

Median income

$108,591

Median age

36.5

Renters

48.5%

Age distribution

13.5%

34.9%

22.5%

18%

Under 1813.5%

18–3434.9%

35–5422.5%

55–6411%

65+18%

Gender

50.8%

49.2%

Male50.8%

Female49.2%

Race & ethnicity

68.8%

21.4%

White68.8%

Black1.3%

Hispanic21.4%

Asian6.1%

Other2.5%

Education (25+)

28.8%

54.7%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma11.3%

Some college28.8%

Bachelor's+54.7%

Housing tenure

51.5%

48.5%

Owner51.5%

Renter48.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 95060 in Santa Cruz, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,410 → $3,312

up 37.4%

Income

$93,839 → $108,591

up 15.7%

Population

47,594 → 46,268

down 2.8%

Renter share

49.2% → 48.5%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

55.1% → 54.7%

-0.4 pts

The median rent in ZIP 95060 in Santa Cruz, CA stood at $2,410 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,312, reflecting a 37.4% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $93,839 to $108,591 across the same window, up 15.7% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.8% since 2021, moving from about 47,594 residents to roughly 46,268. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 95060 in Santa Cruz, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 95060

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 95060 covers Santa Cruz, CA. The median rent here is $3,312/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,503/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,200/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($108,591/yr), ZIP 95060 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 95060?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $132,000/year (about $63/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,312/mo in ZIP 95060. The local median household income is $108,591/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 95060?

Rent in ZIP 95060 has risen 4.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2019.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 95060?

Asking rents in ZIP 95060 are usually lowest in December, about 2% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $116 a month. This pattern comes from 7 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 95060?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 95060 rose 37% while median household income rose 38.6%, from $78,344 to $108,591. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 95060 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 95060 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #239 of 898 at $3,312/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 95060 changed +4.7%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.