Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Felton, California
A $837,000 home here costs
$6,103per 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 $261,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $4,563. The real number is $1,539 higher every month, 34% 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 Felton from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,721 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.
Felton against Santa Cruz County and California
| Measure | Felton | Santa Cruz County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $836,700 | $1,015,200 |
| Median property tax | $5,933 | $6,305 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.709% | 0.621% |
| Median gross rent | $2,164 | $2,172 |
| Population | 3,721 | 266,021 |
The weather behind that power bill
Felton 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 Felton 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 Felton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Felton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Felton?
A $837,000 home in Felton, California costs approximately $6,103 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $4,563 principal and interest, $495 property tax, $130 homeowners insurance, $218 utilities and $698 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Felton?
Felton has an effective property tax rate of 0.709%, based on a median home value of $836,700 and median real estate taxes of $5,933. That is higher than the Santa Cruz County average of 0.621%.
What is the average home price in Felton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Felton, California is $836,700, against $1,015,200 across Santa Cruz County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Felton?
Median gross rent in Felton is $2,164 a month, against $6,103 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 Felton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Felton, California at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $261,500 a year. That covers the full $6,103 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Felton, 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.