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Scotts Valley, CA
Full City Profile · California · Santa Cruz County County
3.3
/5.0
B
Good
12,138
Population
2,627/sq mi density
$140,887
Median Income
$79,348 per capita
$1,092,000
Home Value
$1,235,119 Zillow
$2,362
Median Rent
30.1% income on rent
61°F
Avg Temperature
305 sunny days/yr
109
Violent Crime/100K
1,187 property/100K
B
Overall
3.3 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$140,887 median income, 1.5% unemployment
C
Affordability
2.3 / 5.0
$1,092,000 home value, $2,362/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
109 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
54.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Scotts Valley 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 Average | 60.5°F |
| 12% above US avg | |
| January Average | 51°F (11°C) |
| July Average | 70°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 305 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 576 ft (176 m) |
| Area | 4.6 sq mi (12.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,627/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.0555°N, 122.0118°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Santa Cruz County County |
| Nearest Airport | Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC) 22 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0341 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 5.3 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 97.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 28.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 71.1 / 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)
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 | 72 km |
| 1989 | N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 62 | 12 km |
| 1856 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 0.6 m | — | 56 km |
| 1906 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 84 km |
| 1865 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 19 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
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 |
Scotts Valley 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").