Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, about thirty miles (48 km) south of downtown San Jose and six miles (9.7 km) north of the city of Santa Cruz, in the upland slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 12,224. Principal access to the city is supplied by State Route 17 that connects San Jose and Santa Cruz. The city was incorporated in 1966.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Scotts Valley ranks

All →

#4Highest graduation rate in CA #48Most active in CA #53Fewest uninsured in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code95066, 95067

Area code831

Living in Scotts Valley

Housing in Scotts Valley

$1.25M▲ 2.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Scotts Valley home is worth about $1,248,000, up 2.6% in a year, 63% above the California typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market20

Sale-to-list101.5%

Sold in May11

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Scotts Valley

C⁺

Safety Grade C+

Scotts Valley reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 59% report less. Within California, it does better than 65% of towns.

Violent crime per 1,000

Scotts Valley 2.1

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Scotts Valley 15.6

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Scotts Valley

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Scotts Valley for work: only 12% work in town. The top destinations are San Jose (13%), Santa Cruz (12%) and Santa Clara (3%). Half commute less than 20 miles.

San Jose

13%

Santa Cruz

12%

Santa Clara

Sunnyvale

12%Work in townlive and work in Scotts Valley 20 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 6,531Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Scotts Valley →

Health in Scotts Valley

Health Grade A

Healthier than 93% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

16better than CA·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 1▼ 9 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 4▲ 3 close Mind 4▲ 1 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

4.4%Fewer uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · better 8.1%Fewer adults facing food insecurityCA 17.9% · better 9.6%More adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · worse

Care nearby

Dominican HospitalSanta Cruz · 4.9 mi · ER

North County Mental HealthSanta Cruz · 4.3 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Scotts Valley · CMS · HRSAHealth in Scotts Valley →

Natural hazards in Scotts Valley

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 95% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding

11Does Scotts Valley flood?paid flood claims since 1982 4Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Scotts Valley

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Scotts Valley →

Climate in Scotts Valley

Full climate →

Scotts Valley has mild winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 39°, and snow is almost unheard of.

61° / 39°Winter

68° / 44°Spring

79° / 52°Summer

74° / 47°Fall

How much snow does Scotts Valley get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Dec 13, with the last in spring around Jan 29.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Scotts Valley →

Schools in Scotts Valley

All Scotts Valley schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Scotts Valley’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 87% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#68Best public schoolsof 574 in CA

DistrictScotts Valley UnifiedSchools8

Vine Hill Elementary AElementary · Grades K–5 · 549 students Baymonte Christian SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 461 students Montessori Community SchoolElementary · Grades PK–K · 90 students Scotts Valley Middle AMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 463 students Scotts Valley High AHigh · Grades 9–12 · 611 students California Online Public Schools Monterey BayOther · Grades K–12 · 440 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.