ZIP Code 95003

ZIP code 95003, covering Santa Cruz, sits firmly in affluent territory. A median household income of $148,412 and per-capita income of $76,751 place it well above statewide norms, while the median home value of $1,198,700 reflects a housing market few buyers can enter casually. Property taxes run at a 0.64% county rate, which keeps annual bills lower than many California jurisdictions despite those steep valuations. Sales tax comes to 9.50% on purchases. Wealth here is tied closely to real estate, and the tax structure leans on consumption and transactions rather than heavy property levies.