Comparing Rent in Santa Cruz

Rent is high in Santa Cruz, we know, but it actually varies substantially between neighborhoods.

A new data-based website, Rich Blocks, Poor Blocks uses U.S. census information compiled from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey to show median household income and monthly rents by census tract.

The highest rents are along West Cliff Drive, where the median monthly rent is $1,685, and in the Carbonera neighborhood between highways 1 and 17. There, the average rent is $1,862 a month. 

Looking for cheap rent? Try downtown and Beach Flats, where average rents range between $894 and $1,209.

UC Santa Cruz put together this list of average monthly rents based on house size and a comparison of rent trends over the past five years (see the PDF on the upper left). The comparison shows rents have risen most during that timeframe for three-bedroom houses, apartments and condos. 

Are you surprised by any of the local data? Tell us in the comments section.

The average rent in California is $1,185 a month according to the 2007-2011 American Community Survey. Statewide middle rental-range is $996.00 to $1,193.00.

To see the data mapped out census tract by census tract, visit the Rich Block, Poor Blocks website.