Census-designated place · California
Aptos, California
Aptos, census-designated place, in Santa Cruz County, California. Aptos had 6,404 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±829). GEOID 0602378.
Residents, 2020-2024
6,404
±829 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 6,664
Median household income
$134,048
±$16,517 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$1,093,300
±$66,507 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$2,059
±$957 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Aptos and what county is it in?
Aptos is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Santa Cruz County, California. It covers 6.6 square miles of land, 1,013 residents per square mile in 2020.
Aptos is in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Aptos, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Aptos's population at 6,404 (±829). The 2020 Census counted 6,664 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Aptos is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Aptos | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,404 ±829 | 264,926 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,502 ±254 | 96,898 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.54 ±0.24 | 2.58 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,800 ±243 | 106,977 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Aptos?
The median resident of Aptos is 45.7 years old; 14.0% are under 18 and 25.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 77.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 15.8%. 8.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Aptos | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 ±8.2 | 39.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 14.0% ±3.3 pts | 18.4% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.2% ±4.4 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±3.8 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.8% ±9.5 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 77.5% ±9.0 pts | 53.9% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±1.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1% ±1.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 1.2% ±1.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 8.6% ±2.8 pts | 18.0% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.5% ±9.3 pts | 33.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.9% ±1.8 pts | 3.7% | – |
| With a disability | 10.6% ±2.5 pts | 11.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.5% ±1.8 pts | 4.9% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.6% ±1.8 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 49.5% ±6.2 pts | 43.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 23.7% ±4.2 pts | 18.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.4% ±3.3 pts | 86.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.5% ±1.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Aptos earn?
Half of Aptos's 2,502 households earn less than $134,048 a year (±$16,517), against $111,093 in Santa Cruz County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $138,217 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Aptos | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $134,048 ±$16,517 | $111,093 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $164,390 ±$16,829 | $156,439 | – |
| Per capita income | $64,912 ±$7,396 | $56,941 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.9% ±2.2 pts | 11.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 1.9% ±3.5 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.5% ±1.8 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.4% ±3.5 pts | 97.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.1% ±3.3 pts | 94.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Aptos?
Owners occupy 71.1% of Aptos's occupied homes and renters 28.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,093,300 by its owner (±$66,507). The median renter pays $2,059 a month including utilities, and 36.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Aptos | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $1,093,300 ±$66,507 | $1,027,500 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $2,059 ±$957 | $2,264 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.6% ±18.6 pts | 43.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,403 ±$246 | $3,524 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.1% ±7.6 pts | 59.9% | −12.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.9% ±7.6 pts | 40.1% | – |
| Housing units | 2,800 ±243 | 106,977 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.7% ±10.9 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.6% ±6.3 pts | 63.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 7.6% ±3.6 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 8.6% ±3.6 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 1.4% ±1.2 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.9% ±2.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Aptos work and get to work?
68.8% of Aptos's workers drive alone and 18.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 25.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.4%.
| Measure | Aptos | Santa Cruz County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.3% ±5.4 pts | 62.8% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% ±3.3 pts | 6.1% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 68.8% ±5.6 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.4% ±4.3 pts | 8.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0% ±1.1 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Walked | 5.2% ±3.3 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 18.5% ±3.2 pts | 19.3% | +6.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 25.4 min ±3.3 | 25.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Aptos?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Aptos, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $129,886 (Tract 1222.04) to $140,169 (Tract 1220.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1220.04Santa Cruz County | 2,747 | $140,169 |
| Tract 1222.04Santa Cruz County | 3,043 | $129,886 |
| Tract 1220.02Santa Cruz County | 3,398 | $156,569 |
| Tract 1220.05Santa Cruz County | 4,373 | $118,274 |
| Tract 1220.01Santa Cruz County | 5,419 | $132,829 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Aptos) · Census block assignment files
How does Aptos compare with other places in California?
Aptos ranks 208th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 603rd | 1,076 |
| Residents per square mile | 741st | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 208th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 226th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 194th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 389th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 708th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 233rd | 988 |
| Median age | 279th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 420th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 335th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 694th | 1,069 |
Aptos's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Aptos with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Aptos?
14 of the 57 figures for Aptos on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Aptos are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.