salaryRent is higher than in 68% of U.S. cities. Household incomes are higher than in 91% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 7.1 years of household income, so buying is hard for most locals. It is a highly educated city: 55.6% of adults have a college degree.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $79,320 a year. That is $38 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 218 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Scotts Valley?
Share of households by yearly income. 53.4% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Scotts Valley
| Size | Scotts Valley | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,299 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,823 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,572 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $3,500+ | $1,698 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Scotts Valley overall?
Everyday prices in California overall are 11% above the U.S. average (index 110.7, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Scotts Valley, so the California figure is shown.
Taxes and bills in Scotts Valley
Life in Scotts Valley
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Scotts Valley?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,689 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $1,105,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $110,570 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Scotts Valley, CA?
Renting in Scotts Valley costs a median of about $1,983 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Scotts Valley?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $79,320 a year, or $38 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Scotts Valley cheap or expensive?
Scotts Valley is rated Cheap: rent takes 15.3% of the typical household income of $155,034. It ranks 218th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Scotts Valley?
The median homeowner in Scotts Valley pays $7,933 a year in property taxes, about 0.72% of the median home value.
Is Scotts Valley more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in California are 11% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Scotts Valley?
The median home value in Scotts Valley is $1,105,700, about 7.1 times the typical yearly household income.
12,044 people live in Scotts Valley. Numbers are typical (middle) values.