California · FIPS 06087 · HUD FY 2027
Santa Cruz County, California Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Santa Cruz County is $4,254 a month (rent plus utilities), 62% above the California average of $2,632 and 142% above the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $40 (0.9%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $170,160 a year to afford it.
- $4,2542-bedroom FMR+$40 (+0.9%) vs FY 2026
- $3,3901-bedroom FMRCalifornia: $2,151 · U.S.: $1,478
- $170,160Income for a 2-bedroom$82/hour full-time
- 1 of 582BR rank in California1 = highest rent
| Unit | Santa Cruz County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | California avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,230 | $3,179 | +$51 (+1.6%) | $1,986 | $1,379 | $129,200 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,390 | $3,298 | +$92 (+2.8%) | $2,151 | $1,478 | $135,600 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,254 | $4,214 | +$40 (+0.9%) | $2,632 | $1,761 | $170,160 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,531 | $5,377 | +$154 (+2.9%) | $3,457 | $2,266 | $221,240 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,748 | $5,659 | +$89 (+1.6%) | $3,986 | $2,607 | $229,920 |
How Santa Cruz County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro FMR area, which covers 264,926 residents in 1 county.
- Across California, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,084 (Modoc County) to $4,254 (Santa Cruz County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $3,230, $3,390, $4,254, $5,531, $5,748. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 17 ZIP codes mostly in Santa Cruz County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $3,300 to $5,260.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Santa Cruz County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95003 | $3,740 | $3,920 | $4,920 | $6,400 | $6,650 | +$110 (+2.3%) | 16% above |
| 95005 | $3,380 | $3,550 | $4,450 | $5,790 | $6,010 | +$20 (+0.5%) | 5% above |
| 95006 | $3,020 | $3,170 | $3,980 | $5,180 | $5,380 | −$260 (−6.1%) | 6% below |
| 95007 | $2,970 | $3,090 | $3,940 | $5,030 | $5,290 | −$430 (−9.8%) | 7% below |
| 95010 | $3,400 | $3,570 | $4,480 | $5,830 | $6,050 | +$120 (+2.8%) | 5% above |
| 95017 | $3,570 | $3,750 | $4,700 | $6,120 | $6,360 | −$100 (−2.1%) | 10% above |
| 95018 | $3,270 | $3,430 | $4,310 | $5,600 | $5,820 | −$210 (−4.6%) | 1% above |
| 95019 | $2,870 | $2,970 | $3,800 | $4,840 | $5,100 | −$10 (−0.3%) | 11% below |
| 95033 | $3,390 | $3,650 | $4,480 | $5,890 | $6,180 | +$130 (+3.0%) | 5% above |
| 95041 | $3,070 | $3,190 | $4,070 | $5,200 | $5,470 | −$450 (−10.0%) | 4% below |
| 95060 | $3,990 | $4,190 | $5,260 | $6,840 | $7,110 | +$30 (+0.6%) | 24% above |
| 95062 | $3,870 | $4,060 | $5,100 | $6,630 | $6,890 | +$160 (+3.2%) | 20% above |
| 95064 | $2,870 | $2,970 | $3,800 | $4,840 | $5,100 | −$10 (−0.3%) | 11% below |
| 95065 | $3,780 | $3,970 | $4,980 | $6,480 | $6,730 | +$180 (+3.8%) | 17% above |
| 95066 | $3,410 | $3,580 | $4,490 | $5,840 | $6,070 | −$60 (−1.3%) | 6% above |
| 95073 | $3,090 | $3,240 | $4,070 | $5,290 | $5,500 | −$230 (−5.3%) | 4% below |
| 95076 | $2,510 | $2,640 | $3,300 | $4,280 | $4,460 | −$140 (−4.1%) | 22% below |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.