Santa Cruz County Property Tax Calculator
Locality estimate page for Santa Cruz County, California. Use this county/locality rate for faster screening, then confirm parcel-specific details with your local tax authority.
County/Locality Effective Rate
0.64%
State Effective Rate
0.70%
Sample Annual Tax Difference
-$255
Median Home Value (ACS)
$1,027,500
Median Annual Tax Bill (ACS)
$6,538
Owner-Occupied Households
58,079
The typical owner-occupied home in Santa Cruz County is valued at $1,027,500 with a median real estate tax bill of $6,538 per year — an effective rate of 0.64%. Both figures come from the same ACS release, so the ratio is an estimate rather than an aggregate of individual bills.
State Mortgage Context: California
Some counties follow standard FHA limits while higher-cost counties may qualify for elevated FHA limits.
State Effective Tax Rate
0.70%
FHA 1-Unit Floor
$541,287
FHA 1-Unit Ceiling
$1,249,125
In Santa Cruz County, California, the current county-level estimate is 0.64%, or approximately $2,560 annually on a $400,000 home.
How to Use This County Estimate
Step 1
Enter your property value and assessment assumptions.
Step 2
Apply exemptions that may reduce taxable value.
Step 3
Compare county/locality estimate against statewide fallback.
Santa Cruz County Property Tax Snapshot
Estimated effective rate: 0.64% · vs California: 0.70% · vs national benchmark: 0.90%
| Home value | Estimated annual tax | Estimated monthly tax |
|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $1,600 | $133 |
| $400,000 | $2,560 | $213 |
| $500,000 | $3,200 | $267 |
| $750,000 | $4,800 | $400 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,400 | $533 |
Compare Nearby Property Taxes
- Santa Cruz County0.64%
- Humboldt County0.64%
- Santa Barbara County0.65%
- Monterey County0.63%
- Marin County0.66%
- Orange County0.66%
- Merced County0.67%
Source Transparency
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (B25103 / B25077)
View sourceLast updated: August 2026
Estimates only. Confirm parcel-specific amounts with the official local taxing authority.
Need Statewide Context?
Visit California mortgage snapshot or return to the national calculator hub.