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Boulder Creek, CA

Full City Profile · California · Santa Cruz County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
5,353 Population 713/sq mi density
$106,842 Median Income $56,934 per capita
$785,200 Home Value $727,892 Zillow
$1,844 Median Rent 34.0% income on rent
61°F Avg Temperature 305 sunny days/yr
144 Violent Crime/100K 2,238 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.4 / 5.0
$106,842 median income, 5.7% unemployment
C+
Affordability
2.5 / 5.0
$785,200 home value, $1,844/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
144 violent crimes/100K
A
Education
4.0 / 5.0
37.9% bachelor's degree or higher
Boulder Creek enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 51°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. The area gets 305 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 49.6 inches. The area receives 0.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.

Temperature

51°F Jan (11°C) 70°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average60.5°F
12% above US avg
January Average51°F (11°C)
July Average70°F (21°C)
Sunny Days305 days/yr

Geography

Elevation497 ft (151 m)
Area7.5 sq mi (19.5 km²)
Population Density713/sq mi
Coordinates37.1341°N, 122.1272°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountySanta Cruz County County
Nearest AirportNorman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC)
19 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 49.6"
31% above US avg
Snowfall 0.1"
Wettest Month (Jan) 6.89"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.12"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0341 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)5.3 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score97.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability28.1 / 100
Community Resilience71.1 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively High
Cold Wave No Rating
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Tsunami Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

4,102 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M6.0. Most recent: M2.6 on Aug 24, 2025.

Aug 24, 2014 The 2014 South Napa, California Earthquake M6.0 121 km
Apr 18, 1990 5 km NNW of Aromas, California M5.4 47 km
Oct 21, 2012 24 km NE of San Lucas, California M5.3 146 km
Aug 12, 1998 10 km SW of Ridgemark, California M5.1 73 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km E of Interlaken, California M5.1 44 km
Jan 16, 1993 9 km E of Gilroy, California M4.9 60 km
Apr 23, 1995 22 km NNE of Soledad, California M4.9 101 km
Sep 3, 2000 5 km WSW of Yountville, California M4.9 141 km
Apr 19, 1996 2 km E of Aromas, California M4.9 53 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km NNW of Aromas, California M4.9 48 km
May 14, 2002 5 km SSW of Gilroy, California M4.9 51 km
May 21, 1996 8 km ESE of East Foothills, California M4.7 44 km
Apr 18, 1990 4 km N of Aromas, California M4.7 49 km
Feb 4, 1991 33 km SE of Big Sur, California M4.7 132 km
Aug 11, 1993 14 km ESE of Alum Rock, California M4.7 44 km
Aug 27, 2011 21 km NE of Soledad, California M4.6 104 km
Aug 18, 1999 0 km S of Bolinas, California M4.6 99 km
Mar 24, 1991 1 km NNE of Interlaken, California M4.6 40 km
Sep 19, 2023 15 km SW of Westley, CA M4.5 81 km
Jan 12, 2011 9 km SSE of San Juan Bautista, California M4.5 69 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

36 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2. Total: 10 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 5, 1998 EF2 28 km 0
Mar 11, 1985 EF2 72 km 0
Jan 11, 1951 EF2 26 km 0
Dec 14, 2024 EF1 13 km 0
Jan 23, 2010 EF1 92 km 0
Mar 20, 2005 EF1 63 km 0
Dec 20, 2001 EF1 36 km 0
May 5, 1998 EF1 27 km 0
Dec 6, 1992 EF1 68 km 0
Dec 6, 1992 EF1 63 km 0
Jan 14, 1980 EF1 44 km 0
Apr 1, 1965 EF1 34 km 0
Apr 1, 1958 EF1 58 km 0
Jan 6, 2019 EF0 22 km 0
Jan 6, 2019 EF0 21 km 0
Jan 6, 2016 EF0 70 km 0
Dec 22, 2012 EF0 39 km 0
Apr 14, 2007 EF0 49 km 0
Dec 26, 2005 EF0 92 km 0
Dec 5, 1998 EF0 20 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1868 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 4.5 m 30 63 km
1989 N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 1.0 m 62 24 km
1856 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.6 m 44 km
1906 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 0.1 m 71 km
1865 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 21 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (405,787 ac, 2020).

Year Name Acres Distance
2020 SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX 405,787 68 km
2016 SOBERANES 131,921 98 km
2020 CZU AUG LIGHTNING 85,894 8 km
2020 RIVER 51,582 88 km
2007 LICK 47,424 63 km
2006 CANYON 36,851 74 km
2003 ANNIE 17,383 79 km
2024 CORRAL 16,138 81 km
2009 CORRAL 12,006 76 km
1985 LEXINGTON 11,550 19 km
2009 LOCKHEED 8,287 10 km
2003 BIRD 7,727 84 km
2020 CARMEL 7,299 90 km
1984 SITE 300 3 6,911 81 km
2005 TESLA 6,638 77 km
2003 DEL PUERTO 6,441 72 km
2006 MIDWAY 6,243 80 km
2020 CREWS 5,802 61 km
2003 DEVIL 4,975 63 km
2003 JUMP 4,817 61 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 51°F (11°C) 6.9 in Wettest
February 51°F (10°C) 5.7 in
March 52°F (11°C) 5.2 in
April 55°F (13°C) 2.2 in
May 58°F (15°C) 0.5 in
June 62°F (17°C) 0.2 in
July 70°F (21°C) 0.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 66°F (19°C) 0.1 in
September 64°F (18°C) 0.4 in
October 61°F (16°C) 1.6 in
November 53°F (12°C) 4.7 in
December 49°F (9°C) 5.1 in Coldest

Boulder Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 21°F / from 49°F in December to 70°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 32.7 inches, with January being the wettest month (6.9") and July the driest (0.1").

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