Aptos

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Aptos, CA

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From the redwoods to the sea

Ocean Beach Coast Forest Redwoods Parks Outdoor Activities

Overlooking Monterey Bay and home to the gorgeous Seacliff State Beach, Aptos provides amazing ocean views -- or the forest if you prefer, bordered on northeast side by the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. This redwood forest begins at sea level and extends into the coastal mountains, providing 30 miles of hiking trails. The park is also terrific for camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.

At the other side of Aptos, Seacliff State Beach is perfect for surfing, beachcombing, swimming, and fishing. It also features a fishing pier with an unusual feature -- a concrete ship named the SS Palo Alto, a WWI ship that was built toward the end of the war -- too late for use. It was towed to its current location and allowed to sink where it now serves as an artificial reef. Aptos is located about seven miles east of Santa Cruz and roughly one hour south of San Jose.

Rent Trends

As of March 2025, the average apartment rent in Aptos, CA is $1,479 for a studio, $1,588 for one bedroom, $2,358 for two bedrooms, and $3,241 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Aptos has increased by 1.4% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,588/month
475 Sq Ft
House
$6,439/month
2,773 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Aptos, CA

Transportation

61

Somewhat Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

62

Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

Valencia Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

488 Students

7
out of 10

Rio del Mar Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

404 Students

6
out of 10

Mar Vista Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

344 Students

4
out of 10

Aptos Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

594 Students

5
out of 10

Aptos High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,360 Students

7
out of 10

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
  • Seacliff State Beach
  • New Brighton State Beach
  • Arana Gulch
  • DeLaveaga Park

Military Bases

Airports

  • Monterey Regional
  • Norman Y Mineta San Jose International

Top Apartments in Aptos

Houses for Rent in Aptos

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2025.