Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, California
A $981,000 home here costs
$6,949per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $298,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $5,348. The real number is $1,601 higher every month, 30% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Santa Cruz County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,999 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Santa Cruz County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley against Santa Cruz County and California
| Measure | Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley | Santa Cruz County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $980,800 | $1,015,200 |
| Median property tax | $4,964 | $6,305 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.506% | 0.621% |
| Median gross rent | $3,500+ | $2,172 |
| Population | 1,999 | 266,021 |
The weather behind that power bill
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley sits in Santa Cruz County, which averages a high of 76.7°F in its hottest month and a low of 40.9°F in its coldest, with 30.63" of precipitation a year and 60% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 180 cooling and 2,487 heating degree days, which is what sets the $150 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Santa Cruz County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Santa Cruz County
Full Santa Cruz County cost breakdown · Every county in California
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley?
A $981,000 home in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, California costs approximately $6,949 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $5,348 principal and interest, $414 property tax, $152 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $818 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley?
Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley has an effective property tax rate of 0.506%, based on a median home value of $980,800 and median real estate taxes of $4,964. That is lower than the Santa Cruz County average of 0.621%.
What is the average home price in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley?
The median owner-occupied home value in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, California is $980,800, against $1,015,200 across Santa Cruz County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley?
Median gross rent in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley is above $3,500 (the Census reporting cap) a month, against $6,949 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $298,000 a year. That covers the full $6,949 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for California.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.