RENTALS NEAR UC SANTA CRUZ

Rentals Near
UC Santa Cruz

Compare current rentals near University of California, Santa Cruz with campus-distance context, property details and local guidance.

Santa Cruz, CA · Campus-area housing guidance
30 rentalsNeighborhood contextFinancing →Compare Rent vs. Buy
Lori Hill, Broker Associate

CollegeHousing.ai is independent of University of California, Santa Cruz. School colors are used only as location context; no university endorsement is implied.

CHOOSE YOUR LENS

Rental planning mode

Prioritize monthly rent, bedrooms, campus distance, lease timing and a clean comparison against buying.

$1,374,312Median sale price · 2026-07
$3,624/mo3BR rent benchmark · 2026-09
3.16%Gross rent-to-price screen · not cap rate
-1.8%Current YoY sale-price change · not a forecast

Direct answer: Compare the current rentals by monthly rent, bedroom count and campus distance, then carry the same rental context into your rent-vs-buy decision.

Compare the four-year math →
McHenry Library and its courtyard on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ · HOUSING MARKET

Find your home
near UC Santa Cruz.

Homes for sale. Places to rent. Neighborhoods to know. Explore your options and build a housing plan around life at UC Santa Cruz.

Independent of University of California, Santa Cruz.

Lori Hill

I’m here to help you find your place near UC Santa Cruz.

Lori’s AI local guide · Answers, local resources, and a next step.

Lori’s AI local guideKeep exploring. Ask your next question.

AI assistance from CollegeHousing.ai. Lori Hill is the local Realtor shown on this profile and can help with your next decision. Privacy

UC Santa Cruz · YOUR NEXT CHAPTER

What brings you to UC Santa Cruz?

You might be moving in, here for your student, or back on familiar streets. Let’s start with your part of the story.

Let’s find your place in the day-to-day.

The right home needs to work on an ordinary Tuesday, too. Tell us about your routine, the places you’ll need to reach, and what matters when you walk back through your own front door.

Local guidance from CollegeHousing.ai · Independent of University of California, Santa Cruz.

Explore University of California, Santa Cruz Area Properties

Explore 30 homes for sale and 30 rentals near UC Santa Cruz. Select a home for photos and details.

Price range
Must-have features
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Every checked feature is required. Unconfirmed amenities are excluded.

30 propertiesScroll to explore every result

Checked 2026-09-06. Prices and availability may change. *Straight-line miles to University of California, Santa Cruz campus reference point. Walking and driving routes differ.

Have a specific search in mind?

Current UC Santa Cruz-Area Listing Snapshot

This section describes only the properties displayed in this explorer.

30Homes for Sale
30Rental Properties
$475,000 – $2,375,000Purchase Price Range
$2,000 – $4,300/moRental Price Range
$1,096,250Median List Price
$3,163/moMedian Rent

Property types: Condo, Townhouse, Single Family, Apartment. Neighborhoods: Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, River Street, Lower Ocean, Nobel, Downtown Santa Cruz, Felton, North Pacific, Banana Belt, King Street, Carbonera, Mission Hill, Westlake, Cedar Street Village, Branciforte Drive, Upper Ocean, Pacific Avenue District. Asking prices describe this selection of listings.

Plan Your Housing Around UC Santa Cruz

Can your student live off campus yet?

Confirm the housing options and university requirements that apply to your student before committing to an off-campus plan.

Review housing resources →

Which campus building are you heading to?

Start with the building you will use. Compare the actual walking, driving or transit route from the property.

Find the campus on a map ↗

What will the whole year cost?

Include the full lease term, utilities, food, transportation and upfront costs. On the ownership side, include financing, taxes, insurance, fees and upkeep.

Compare renting and buying →

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING · SCHOOL-RANKED ANSWERS

Top off-campus housing questions for UC Santa Cruz.

Ranked from current university guidance and recurring off-campus search intent. The first four stay visible; six more are one tap away so the MPS stays fast to scan.

See 6 more off-campus housing questions +

UC Santa Cruz Housing Costs

Compare your campus housing offer with a private lease.

Compare room type, dining, utilities and the entire contract term. Ask the housing office for the current rate for your assignment.

Explore UC Santa Cruz housing questions →

Should You Rent or Buy Near UC Santa Cruz?

Compare renting and owning with the assumptions that matter to your plan.

Enter your numbersCompare both scenariosReview the assumptions

Illustrative starting scenario

Monthly rent$1,350/mo
Estimated ownership cost$1,633/mo
$475,000 purchase · 20% down · 6.5% illustrative rate · 4-year plan. Edit these assumptions, taxes, fees, and upkeep in the calculator. Not a loan quote.
Learn More

Find Your Path Near University of California, Santa Cruz

Parent Buyer

Compare ownership with the housing plan after graduation.

Learn More →

Renter / Student Housing

Find a home and plan the lease, roommates, and move.

Investor

Review rental evidence, operating costs, and the property.

Learn More →

Seller

Discuss your property, preparation, and sale timing.

Learn More →

Out-of-State Family

Plan a remote search with local property guidance.

Learn More →

Faculty / Staff / Relocation

Compare housing around your campus and daily commute.

Learn More →

Explore UC Santa Cruz Neighborhoods

Compare locations and the individual property with Lori.

People walk beside storefronts and outdoor seating on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz

Compare the trip to your campus building
Review property type and total housing costs
Ask Lori about the specific address

5 for sale | 0 for rent

Buy from $1,275,000Explore the Area →
Colorful waterfront buildings and the wharf line Capitola’s beach beside the creek mouth.

Capitola

Compare the trip to your campus building
Review property type and total housing costs
Ask Lori about the specific address

0 for sale | 0 for rent

Explore the Area →
Waves reflect an orange sunset along Seacliff State Beach in Aptos.

Aptos

Compare the trip to your campus building
Review property type and total housing costs
Ask Lori about the specific address

0 for sale | 0 for rent

Explore the Area →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the local Realtor for UC Santa Cruz?+

Lori Hill of Compass is the CollegeHousing.ai real estate contact for University of California, Santa Cruz.

How can I schedule a callback with Lori?+

Use Schedule a Callback and include your preferred day and time, housing plan and contact details. You can also call 831-588-7552. Appointment availability is confirmed with the professional.

How should I compare renting and buying?+

Compare the complete housing arrangements, upfront cash, monthly costs, expected time near campus and plan after graduation. The rent-vs-buy calculator provides an editable illustration.

Who can help review financing?+

Matt Dean of NEXA Lending, NMLS #227603, is the financing contact. Share the property, intended occupancy and your assumptions for an eligibility review.

More answers near UC Santa Cruz

  • Food & restaurants near UC Santa Cruz

    3 of 150 granular food questions currently pass CH2’s 15-option evidence threshold, with ratings, review counts, price, location, directions and source checks.

  • 50 current housing-cost answers for UC Santa Cruz

    Current 1-bedroom $2,771/mo · 2-bedroom $3,762/mo · 3-bedroom $3,624/mo · median sale price $1,374,312. Rent, mortgage, down-payment and insurance math with source links.

  • Off-campus housing options for UC Santa Cruz students

    UC Santa Cruz points students to Community Rentals for off-campus housing search tools and listings. The main options named in UCSC materials are rental listings, short-term sublets, rooms for rent, roommates, and privately managed apartments.

  • UC Santa Cruz Library closing time

    As of September 15, 2026, UC Santa Cruz’s McHenry Library and Science & Engineering Library are open until 5:00 p.m. today, and the library hours page shows both closing at 5:00 p.m. on the current weekday schedule.

  • Reporting an HVAC problem in UCSC housing

    Students should submit a CruzFix maintenance request for HVAC issues in university housing, and use the emergency phone numbers only if the problem can’t wait until the next business day.

  • UC Santa Cruz housing in Santa Cruz, CA: what you should know

    UCSC housing is organized around small-scale residential communities, with continuing assignments still made through summer, fall 2026 move-in set for September 17–22, and a new two-year housing guarantee for fall 2026 incoming students.

  • Financing a college-area condo at UC Santa Cruz

    For a condo near UC Santa Cruz, start with lender pre-approval, then check whether the specific condo and HOA can actually be financed; some on-campus UCSC units have restrictions that many lenders won’t accept.

  • Are apartment study rooms, gyms, pools, package lockers, and other amenities near University of California, Santa Cruz worth the fees if campus already offers similar facilities?

    School-specific source research is in progress. This becomes a permanent sourced answer here when the local evidence passes CH2’s publication checks.

  • homes near University of California, Santa Cruz

    School-specific source research is in progress. This becomes a permanent sourced answer here when the local evidence passes CH2’s publication checks.

All researched answers →
Reviewed video · CollegeHousing.ai

See UC Santa Cruz in context

Reviewed public videos add visual context for the campus and surrounding area. Each title, source and summary below is crawlable; dedicated watch pages make the video itself the primary content for search discovery.

Campus tourVerified 2026-09-08

UC Santa Cruz 6-Minute Tour

UC Santa Cruz Admissions directs visitors to this concise campus tour.

Videos remain hosted and played by their original publishers through YouTube. CollegeHousing.ai reviews relevance and adds independent housing context; no university affiliation or endorsement is implied. Open the reviewed UC Santa Cruz video.

A wooden front door with sidelights at a Dallas home. Illustrative photography, not a local listing.

Ready to Find the Right Opportunity Near UC Santa Cruz?

Talk with Lori Hill about buying, renting, selling, or investing near University of California, Santa Cruz.

Let’s find the right
opportunity near UC Santa Cruz.

— Lori Hill