What are the schools like in Capitola, CA?

Capitola is served primarily by Soquel Union Elementary. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 22.2:1.

What is the median household income in Capitola?

The median household income in Capitola, CA is $91,850 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.0%.

Capitola, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Capitola, CA affordable or expensive?

Capitola's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Capitola is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $846,200 and the median rent is $2,212 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Capitola, CA?

Capitola has a violent crime rate of 243.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2907.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Capitola, CA?

Capitola has an average high temperature of 62.5°F in January and 74.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 30.1 inches.

Is Capitola, CA a Good Place to Live?

Capitola is a small town of 9,921 in California, with a median household income of $91,850 and a 2.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Capitola stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Capitola is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Capitola city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 112.6

Capitola's overall cost of living index is 112.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Capitola costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Capitola, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$846,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,212	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$91,850	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Capitola's violent crime rate is 243.2 per 100,000 residents — 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

243.2 /100k

Property Crime

2907.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Capitola is served primarily by Soquel Union Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Capitola, CA	National Avg
School District	Soquel Union Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	22.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Capitola sees average highs of 62.5°F in January and 74.3°F in July, with 30.1 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Capitola, CA
Average High — January	62.5°F
Average High — July	74.3°F
Annual Precipitation	30.1"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Capitola, CA	National Avg
Population	9,921	—
Median Age	48.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	25.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	15.3%	18.9%
Asian	5.7%	6.3%
Under 18	14.1%	22.2%
65 and over	25.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pleasure Point, CA 1 mi Soquel, CA 2 mi Live Oak, CA 2 mi Seacliff, CA 2 mi Twin Lakes CDP (Santa Cruz County), CA 2 mi

ZIP Codes in Capitola

Capitola, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95010

Capitola vs Other Cities

Capitola, CA vs Pleasure Point, CA Capitola, CA vs Soquel, CA Capitola, CA vs Live Oak, CA Capitola, CA vs Seacliff, CA Capitola, CA vs Twin Lakes CDP (Santa Cruz County), CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Capitola, CA affordable or expensive?

Capitola's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Capitola roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $846,200 and median rent is $2,212/month.

What is the crime rate in Capitola, CA?

Capitola's violent crime rate is 243.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2907.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Capitola?

Public schools in Capitola are operated by Soquel Union Elementary. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 22.2:1. 47.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Capitola, CA a good place to live?

Capitola, CA has a population of 9,921, a median household income of $91,850, and an unemployment rate of 2.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Capitola?

Capitola averages 62.5°F in January and 74.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 30.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Capitola?

Capitola, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95010.

What is the population of Capitola?

The population of Capitola, California is 9,921 with a median age of 48.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Capitola?

Key numbers for living in Capitola: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $846,200, median household income $91,850, crime index 94 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Capitola side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.