City · 9,689 residents · Santa Cruz County, California
Capitola, California
In Capitola, a typical home is worth $783,000 and typical rent is $2,512 a month. Compared with all of Santa Cruz County, the typical home value is 24% lower, typical rent is 11% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,070,940 to $1,228,511.
Typical rent
$3,459a month
▲ 4.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, March 2024 to September 2026: from $3,018 to $3,459.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Capitola is in Santa Cruz County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Santa Cruz County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Capitola rose 7.5%; in California, it rose 0.6%.
2
The typical home in Capitola is worth $783,000,24% less than in Santa Cruz County as a whole ($1,027,500).
3
Nearby, in Aptos, the typical rent is $2,059: 18% less than in Capitola ($2,512).
4
Capitola has the 43rd smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 616 cities in California with more than 5,000 people (42%).
5
52% of households in Capitola own their home, against 60% in Santa Cruz County.
Sources: Zillow (September 2026 data); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Capitola
What homes there are in Capitola, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
United States
Kind of home: Capitola and its comparisons
Measure
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
United States
Detached house
37%
63%
57%
61%
Attached house
8%
9%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
25%
8%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
19%
13%
24%
19%
Mobile home
11%
7%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
Homes in Capitola are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 37%, against 63% in Santa Cruz County.
There are more mobile homes here than in Santa Cruz County: 11% of homes, against 7%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
United States
Year built: Capitola and its comparisons
Measure
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
United States
Before 1960
20%
29%
27%
26%
1960–1979
44%
35%
29%
24%
1980–1999
23%
24%
25%
25%
2000–2009
9%
8%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
5%
8%
11%
The typical year built in Capitola is 1975, about the same as in Santa Cruz County (1974).
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750K29%
$750K–$1M10%
$1M or more42%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Capitola and its comparisons
Measure
Capitola
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
29%
$750K–$1M
10%
$1M or more
42%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99911%
$2,000–$2,49927%
$2,500–$2,99921%
$3,000 or more29%
Monthly rent with utilities: Capitola and its comparisons
Measure
Capitola
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
11%
$2,000–$2,499
27%
$2,500–$2,999
21%
$3,000 or more
29%
With a mortgage
$3,283 a month
Santa Cruz County: $3,524 a month
Without a mortgage
$895 a month
Santa Cruz County: $956 a month
Owners with a mortgage
55%
Santa Cruz County: 63%
In Capitola, 55% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $3,283 a month, against $3,524 in Santa Cruz County. Without one it drops to $895.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
CapitolaNo clear change
Santa Cruz County+36%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Capitola+41%
Santa Cruz County+32%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Capitola+45%
Santa Cruz County+35%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Capitola and its comparisons
Measure
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
United States
Typical home value
No clear change
+36%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+41%
+32%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+45%
+35%
+32%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Capitola did not change clearly: the difference is within the Census margin of error.
Rents in Capitola rose faster than in Santa Cruz County: 41% since 2015–2019, against 32%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Capitola and its comparisons
Measure
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.7%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
4.8%
7.3%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.08
2.58
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
53%
62%
66%
69%
Carpool
7%
8%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
6%
3%
3%
Work from home
28%
19%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Capitola, 4.8% of households live with more than one person per room, against 7.3% in Santa Cruz County.
Fewer people live in each home here: 2.08 on average, against 2.58 in Santa Cruz County.
Many people here do not commute at all: 28% work from home; in Santa Cruz County, 19%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Capitola?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Capitola, worth $783,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 74% of the typical household income in Capitola, which is $102,976 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $272,169 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Santa Cruz County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Capitola. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $27,405 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$6,351
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$768,818
Total interest
$1,106,149
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $13,223 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,403 a month
Tight
$2,403 to $3,089 a month
Hard
more than $3,089 a month
Your payment · 74%
Compared with the typical household income in Capitola ($102,976 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$5,208
Property tax
$470
Home insurance
$326
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$346
You need at least $27,405 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $6,351; principal and interest $5,208.
The city and its county
Capitola and Santa Cruz County
Capitola is in Santa Cruz County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Capitola
Map of Santa Cruz County, California, with Capitola marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
Other cities with a page
Capitola's own numbers
Typical home value
$783,000
Typical monthly rent
$2,512
Typical yearly household income
$102,976
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
0.72%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Santa Cruz County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$4,254
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+30%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
6.4%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Santa Cruz County.
A typical home in Capitola is worth $783,000: 24% below the county and 7% above California. With the typical household income in Capitola ($102,976 a year), a typical home costs 7.6 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Capitola7.6 years
Santa Cruz9.2 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Santa Cruz County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Santa Cruz County rose 61% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Santa Cruz County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Santa Cruz County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +9.0% +9.0% 2016
2017: +6.3% +6.3% 2017
2018: +5.4% +5.4% 2018
2019: +1.6% +1.6% 2019
2020: −0.5% −0.5% 2020
2021: +10.6% +10.6% 2021
2022: +14.9% +14.9% 2022
2023: −0.4% −0.4% 2023
2024: +2.6% +2.6% 2024
2025: +0.3% +0.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Santa Cruz County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.3%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+30%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+61%
+80%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Capitola next to Santa Cruz County, California and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Capitola$783,000
Santa Cruz$1,027,500
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Capitola$2,512
Santa Cruz$2,264
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Capitola$102,976
Santa Cruz$111,093
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Capitola next to Santa Cruz County and California
Measure
Capitola
Santa Cruz County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$783,000 ▼24% below the county
$1,027,500
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,512 ▲11% above the county
$2,264
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$102,976 ▼7% below the county
$111,093
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
52% ▼8 points below the county
60%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$5,675 ▼13% below the county
$6,538
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.72% ▲0.08 points above the county
0.64%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
42% ▼10 points below the county
52%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Santa Cruz County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Capitola
For a typical $783,000 home in Capitola, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Capitola's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$6,351a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$27,405
Cash to close
$50,895
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $346
Conventional, 5% down$6,207a month
Down payment
$39,150
Cash to close
$62,640
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $372
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$5,040a month
Down payment
$156,600
Cash to close
$180,090
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$5,763a month
Down payment
$117,450
Cash to close
$140,940
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Capitola
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$6,351
$27,405
$768,818
7.18%
FHA MIP · $346
$50,895
580
Conventional, 5% down
$6,207
$39,150
$743,850
7.18%
PMI · $372
$62,640
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$5,040
$156,600
$626,400
7.18%
None
$180,090
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$5,763
$117,450
$665,550
8.18%
None
$140,940
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Capitola is $2,512 a month: 11% above the county. In Capitola, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Santa Cruz County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($4,254 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $81.81 an hour working full time.
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Santa Cruz County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Capitola or Santa Cruz County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Capitola the same as in the rest of the state.
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation.Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional).Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).
No legal help resource on our list is for Capitola or Santa Cruz County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Capitola and all of Santa Cruz County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Capitola?
The typical home value in Capitola is $783,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Santa Cruz County it is $1,027,500.
How much does it cost to rent in Capitola?
Typical rent in Capitola is $2,512 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Santa Cruz County is $4,254.
What is the FHA loan limit in Capitola?
Capitola uses the FHA limit for all of Santa Cruz County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Capitola?
The typical homeowner in Capitola pays $5,675 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.72% of the home’s value; in Santa Cruz County, the rate is 0.64%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Capitola?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Santa Cruz County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
