Watsonville, California Housing Market Prices
Watsonville Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 217% above the California median$2,060,894
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Median rent 8% below the California median$1,872
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Watsonville | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $2,060,894 | $650,794 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 37.0% | 8.9% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,872 | $2,036 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 5.0% | 5.8% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Watsonville is about 217% higher than in California. Rent is about 8% lower than the California average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2015-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Watsonville, up about 37.0% and 5.0% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Watsonville rose about 52.1% between 2015 and 2024, from $1,231 to $1,872. Over the same span, rent in California rose about 62.2%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 26.1 yearly household incomes in Watsonville.
Buying the median-priced home in Watsonville costs roughly 91.7 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Watsonville. The price-to-rent ratio in California is about 26.6.
| Metric | Watsonville | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $2,060,894 | $650,794 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $78,827 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 26.1 | 6.6 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2015 and 2024, the median home price in Watsonville rose about 546.6%, while median household income rose about 63.3% between 2009 and 2025 — the home price grew faster than income.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Watsonville | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 43.5% | 51.7% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 52.2% | 40.8% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 4.4% | 7.5% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 15.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2011 | 2011 | 2011 |
Watsonville has a homeownership rate of 43.5%, lower than the California average of 51.7%. Its housing vacancy rate is 4.4%, compared with 7.5% in California.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Watsonville | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 3.40 people | 2.84 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1977 | 1975 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Watsonville was built around 1977. On average, 3.4 people live in a home with about 4.6 rooms, staying for about 15.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Watsonville, California.
What is the median home price in Watsonville, California?
The median home price in Watsonville, California is $2,060,894, higher than the California average of $650,794.
What is the average home price in Watsonville, California?
The typical home price in Watsonville, California, reported as the median sale price, is $2,060,894. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Watsonville, California?
The median gross rent in Watsonville, California is $1,872 per month, lower than the California average of $2,036.
What was the median gross rent in Watsonville in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Watsonville, California was $1,477 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Watsonville, California?
The price-to-rent ratio in Watsonville, California is about 91.7, meaning it would take roughly 91.7 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a relatively high price-to-rent ratio, which tends to favor renting over buying in Watsonville.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Watsonville, California?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Watsonville, up about 37.0% and 5.0% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Watsonville, California?
43.5% of households in Watsonville, California own their home, lower than the California average of 51.7%.
What is the vacancy rate in Watsonville, California?
The housing vacancy rate in Watsonville, California is 4.4%, lower than the California average of 7.5%.
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