Metro area index
Home appreciation in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area
FHFA HPI® data shows the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area's all-transactions index changed +1.7% over the year to Q2 2026, versus +0.9% for California and +3.0% for the U.S. That ranks 296th of 410 metro areas and divisions FHFA tracks.
- 1-year change
- +1.7%
- 5-year change
- +20.6%
- Since Q1 1995
- +361%
- Metro rank (1 year)
- 296th
U.S. +3.0%
U.S. +41.3%
U.S. +292%
of 410
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA vs California and the U.S.
FHFA HPI® all-transactions index, rebased so Q1 1995 = 100, through Q2 2026
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: 460.8
- California: 488.5
- United States: 391.6
Appreciation by time window
| Window | Metro | CA | U.S. | Gap vs CA | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +1.7% | +0.9% | +3.0% | +0.8 pts | −1.3 pts |
| 3 years | +5.0% | +7.7% | +12.9% | −2.6 pts | −7.8 pts |
| 5 years | +20.6% | +28.1% | +41.3% | −7.6 pts | −20.7 pts |
| 10 years | +54.8% | +76.2% | +93.3% | −21.4 pts | −38.5 pts |
| Since Q1 1995 | +361% | +388% | +292% | −27.7 pts | +69.3 pts |
3-digit ZIP regions in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area
Regions with at least 10% of their 2010 population inside the metro, largest overlap first. A 3-digit ZIP region can extend beyond the metro boundary.
| 3-digit ZIP region | State | 1 year | 5 years | Since Q1 1995 | Population in metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 950 · Santa Clara, CA area | CA | +0.2% | +20.7% | +383% | 32% |
Boom, bust, and recovery in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area's index peaked in Q2 2006, fell 34.5% to its low in Q1 2012, and regained its peak in Q2 2017, about 11 years after the top. Today it sits +46.7% versus that 2000s peak. How every state and ZIP region fared
| Area | 2000s peak | Low point | Peak to low | Back to peak | Today vs peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | Q2 2006 | Q1 2012 | -34.5% | Q2 2017 (11 yrs) | +46.7% |
| CA | Q3 2006 | Q1 2012 | -41.0% | Q2 2019 (12.8 yrs) | +50.9% |
| U.S. | Q1 2007 | Q2 2012 | -19.0% | Q4 2016 (9.8 yrs) | +89.3% |
Appreciation after inflation
Adjusting for consumer price inflation, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area's index has changed +108% in real terms since Q1 1995. Home prices vs inflation
| Window | Inflation (CPI-U) | Metro after inflation | CA after inflation | U.S. after inflation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +3.9% | -2.0% | -2.9% | -0.8% |
| 3 years | +9.8% | -4.3% | -1.9% | +2.8% |
| 5 years | +24.0% | -2.8% | +3.3% | +13.9% |
| 10 years | +39.1% | +11.3% | +26.7% | +39.0% |
| Since Q1 1995 | +121% | +108% | +121% | +76.8% |
If you bought in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area in…
An example $300,000 purchase grown at the metro index rate to Q2 2026.
| Bought in | Index change | $300,000 then, at the metro rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 1995 | +362% | $1,384,706 |
| Q2 2000 | +180% | $840,522 |
| Q2 2005 | +62.7% | $487,995 |
| Q2 2010 | +109% | $628,490 |
| Q2 2015 | +67.3% | $501,848 |
| Q2 2020 | +33.8% | $401,466 |
| Q2 2021 | +20.5% | $361,643 |
| Q2 2023 | +5.0% | $315,119 |
| Q2 2025 | +1.7% | $305,212 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much have home prices risen in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area?
- FHFA HPI® data for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area shows changes of +1.7% over one year, +20.6% over five years, and +54.8% over ten years to Q2 2026, and +361% since Q1 1995.
- Is the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA area beating the national average?
- Over the past year the metro's index moved −1.3 pts versus the U.S.; over five years the gap is −20.7 pts.
- What area does this metro index cover?
- FHFA computes metro indexes using the counties in each OMB-defined metropolitan statistical area. The index covers the whole area, so individual neighborhoods and homes can differ from it.