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2025 Compare Cities Housing:
San Rafael, CA vs Santa Cruz, CA

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Highlights
- The median age of a home in San Rafael is 5.5% older than the median age of a home in Santa Cruz.
 San Rafael, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Median Home Age55  Unlock42
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$1,270,800$338,100
 Home Appr. Last 12 months15.4%  Unlock16.6%
 Home Appr. Last 5 yrs.  Unlock34.8%57.0%
 Home Appr. Last 10 yrs.108.2%  Unlock101.1%
 Property Tax Rate  Unlock$6.2$11.0
 Homes Owned48.8%  Unlock57.4%
 Housing Vacant  Unlock8.2%11.2%
 Homes Rented47.7%  Unlock31.4%
 space
 Avg Rent For Home Or Apartment
 San Rafael, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Average Rent  Unlock$4,500$1,840
 Studio Apartment$2,240  Unlock$1,080
 1 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$2,800$1,180
 2 Bedroom Home or Apartment$3,300  Unlock$1,430
 3 Bedroom Home or Apartment  Unlock$4,560$1,860
 4 Bedroom Home or Apartment$4,440  Unlock$2,160
 space1
 Vacant Housing
 San Rafael, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Vacant For Rent  Unlock0.9%1.9%
 Vacant Rented0.7%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant For Sale  Unlock0.6%0.7%
 Vacant Sold0.0%  Unlock0.4%
 Vacant Vacation  Unlock2.6%3.6%
 Vacant Other1.2%  Unlock4.1%
 space2
 Owner-Occupied Housing Value
 San Rafael, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 Less Than $20,000  Unlock1.4%2.6%
 $20,000 to $39,9990.1%  Unlock2.4%
 $40,000 to $59,999  Unlock0.0%2.8%
 $60,000 to $79,9990.0%  Unlock3.9%
 $80,000 to $99,999  Unlock0.2%4.5%
 $100,000 to $149,9990.8%  Unlock11.3%
 $150,000 to $199,999  Unlock0.7%13.0%
 $200,000 to $299,9991.4%  Unlock20.1%
 $300,000 to $399,999  Unlock2.5%13.6%
 $400,000 to $499,9994.5%  Unlock8.3%
 $500,000 to $749,999  Unlock12.4%9.7%
 $750,000 to $999,99925.7%  Unlock3.9%
 $1,000,000 to $1,499,999  Unlock28.0%2.2%
 $1,500,000 to $1,999,99910.6%  Unlock0.8%
 $2,000,000 and over  Unlock4.5%1.1%
 space3
 Housing Units By Year Built
 San Rafael, CASanta Cruz, CAUnited States
 2015 and Newer0.0%  Unlock0.2%
 2010 to 2014  Unlock8.0%13.6%
 2000 to 20094.7%  Unlock13.6%
 1990 to 1999  Unlock9.9%13.6%
 1980 to 198911.5%  Unlock13.2%
 1970 to 1979  Unlock18.3%14.8%
 1960 to 19698.4%  Unlock13.6%
 1950 to 1959  Unlock12.5%10.0%
 1940 to 19495.7%  Unlock4.7%
 1939 or Earlier  Unlock18.2%12.2%
Transportation
Reviews for San Rafael    7 Reviews
Monica · San Rafael, CA
Moderation is always good
Over 13 years ago

San Rafael is only 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but the weather is completely different. It's sunny most of the year, including in the summer when the city  More

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Jonathan · San Rafael, CA
Crime
Over 15 years ago

I feal very safe in this town. I think getting stopped for talking on your cell phone while driving is a big deal here. Thats about all I can  More

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David · San Rafael, CA
San Rafael
Over 17 years ago

Cost of living too high. Unfriendly  More

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Reviews for Santa Cruz    44 Reviews
NC · Boise City, ID
Some love it, others not so much
Over 5 years ago

I lived in the Santa Cruz area for 20 years. UCSC alum. Our kids were born there. There are wonderful things about Santa Cruz, but also many serious problems that we  More

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Kimberly · Santa Cruz, CA
Small Town, Big City
Over 5 years ago

I have been here for four generations! My kids are the fifth. I guess that should tell you how wonderful it is here, at least for us. It's so cool to have world class  More

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Holly · Live Oak, CA
Santa Cruz is my Heart Home in so many ways
Over 6 years ago

I was born over the hill in San Jose area, and as a kid I loved coming over to the boardwalk. Santa Cruz has always been and always will be a town of diversity,  More

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Learn More About San Rafael, California
Overview
Cost of Living
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Learn More About Santa Cruz, California
Overview
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