Aptos, CA · standard
ZIP Code 95003
Santa Cruz County, California - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 23,974
- 264/sq mi High-density area
- $148,412
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,198,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 56.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Aptos pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 4%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 1%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 264
- people per sq mi
- 71%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 95003 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 95003 (Aptos, CA) fell -1.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 265.4 in 2023 to 261.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 95003 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Aptos, Santa Cruz County, California, with 23,974 residents across 90.9 square miles, a density of 264 people per square mile, in the Los Angeles time zone.
ZIP 95003 skews affluent, with a median household income of $148,412 (46% above the average California ZIP), while per-capita income is $76,751. The poverty rate is 4.1%, with unemployment at 6.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $1,198,700 (55% above the average California ZIP), while 70.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $2,731.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 56.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.4, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Santa Cruz County, so 95003 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 95003
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Aptos, CA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 95003.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
116 establishments
- Construction
Construction
106 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
86 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
56 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
55 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 95003, Aptos, CA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
23,974
Population
90.9
Area (sq mi)
264
People / sq mi
Los Angeles
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 95003?
48.4
Median Age
48.6%
Male
51.4%
Female
9.4%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$148,412
Median Household Income
+46% vs state ZIP avg
$76,751
Per Capita Income
4.1%
Poverty Rate
6.1%
Unemployment Rate
27.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 95003 ranks among California ZIPs
Aptos, CA household income vs. every California ZIP code
Median household income among 1,583 reporting California ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$148,412 Top 13% higher than 87% of 1,583 California ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more California ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
11,843housing units
11,843
Total Housing Units
9,905
Occupied Units
1,938
Vacant Units
2.51
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,198,700
Median Home Value
+55% vs state ZIP avg
$2,731
Median Rent
1976
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
-1.6%
YoY Change (2024)
261
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+161%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 95003 have decreased 1.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +161% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -1.0% | 198 |
| 2021 | +8.7% | 215 |
| 2022 | +19.7% | 258 |
| 2023 | +3.0% | 265 |
| 2024 | -1.6% | 261 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 660 business establishments in ZIP 95003, employing approximately 5,123 people with a combined annual payroll of $244,781,000.
660
Businesses
5,123
Employees
$244.8M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 116 | 17.6% |
| Construction | 106 | 16.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 86 | 13.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 56 | 8.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 55 | 8.3% |
| Retail trade | 48 | 7.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 38 | 5.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 36 | 5.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 35 | 5.3% |
| Educational services | 21 | 3.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 19 | 2.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 2.0% |
| Information | 10 | 1.5% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 95003 vs 95073 →
ZIP 95003 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 95076
Watsonville (95076)
82,474 residents
- 95062
Santa Cruz (95062)
36,079 residents
- 95003 23,974
Aptos (95003)
23,974 residents
- 95066 14,749
Scotts Valley (95066)
14,749 residents
- 95073 10,154
Soquel (95073)
10,154 residents
- 95010 9,137
Capitola (95010)
9,137 residents
- 95065 8,113
Santa Cruz (95065)
8,113 residents
- 95019 7,727
Freedom (95019)
7,727 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 95003 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 95003 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 95065
Santa Cruz (95065)
$153,222 median income
- 95066
Scotts Valley (95066)
$151,250 median income
- 95003
Aptos (95003)
$148,412 median income
- 95073
Soquel (95073)
$118,169 median income
- 95062
Santa Cruz (95062)
$112,106 median income
- 95010
Capitola (95010)
$105,236 median income
- 95076
Watsonville (95076)
$91,099 median income
- 95019
Freedom (95019)
$67,474 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 95003 ranks #3 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 95003, both outside CA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (23,974 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Santa Cruz County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 95003 in?
ZIP code 95003 (Aptos) is located in Santa Cruz County, California. Santa Cruz County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/santa-cruz-ca.
What is the population of ZIP code 95003?
ZIP code 95003 in Aptos, CA has a population of 23,974 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 95003?
The median household income in ZIP 95003 is $148,412, which is 95% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 95003?
The median home value in ZIP 95003 is $1,198,700, which is 331% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 95003?
The largest racial group in ZIP 95003 is White at 78.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 95003?
ZIP code 95003 has 660 business establishments employing approximately 5,123 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 95003?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 95003 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (116), Construction (106), Health care and social assistance (86). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 95003?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 95003 decreased by 1.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 161%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 95003?
In ZIP code 95003, 64.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 56.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 95003?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 95003 is 27.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 95003?
In ZIP code 95003, approximately 70.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 95003?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 95003 is 4.1% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 95003's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 95003 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Aptos, CA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.