$1,091,887Average Value$874Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Walkable neighborhood in Central Santa Cruz
Palm tree fronds dot the skyline of Santa Cruz’s Lower Ocean neighborhood. This sunny residential neighborhood is just minutes from Santa Cruz's bustling beachfront and its colorful downtown district. “It’s a little more affordable than nearby areas like Seabright, but it’s still walking distance to downtown and a few blocks from the beach,” says Neal Langholz, a broker with Karon Properties and longtime Santa Cruz resident. Lower Ocean is primarily residential, but there are several hotels along the outskirts of the neighborhood, so vacationers and tourists have a presence here as well.
Flooding is an issue for area because of its proximity to the San Lorenzo River, however. “One of the challenges is that it’s in a flood plain, and flood insurance is going to be an added expense if you want to live there,” Langholz says.
Downtown Santa Cruz is close to the Lower Ocean area.
A lot of beachfront homes in the Lower Ocean area.
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Bungalows, cottages and Victorians
Lower Ocean streets are lined with sidewalks, tall palm and pine trees and yards brimming with lush landscaping. Homes in the neighborhood were mostly built in the early and mid-20th century, and bungalows, cottages and Victorian homes can all be found here. Some bungalows have Craftsman features such as exposed beams, wide front porches and roofs with deep eaves. Others have Mediterranean Revival features like red-tiled rooftops, stucco facades and arched doorways and windows. Homes in Lower Ocean typically sell for between $750,000 and $1.5 million. The median list price in 2024 is $1.1 million.
A bungalow is another type of home you can find in the Lower Ocean area.
Victorian homes are popular in the Lower Ocean area.
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Walking distance to downtown dining and shopping
There are several locally owned Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood, including Los Primos Taqueria and Los Viejones Taco Truck. For everything else, it’s just a short walk to Downtown Santa Cruz where the streets are packed with eateries, bars and cocktail lounges. It’s also home to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, two local movie theaters and a Trader Joe’s grocery store. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, California’s oldest amusement park, is less than a mile south of Lower Ocean. The boardwalk is a well-known vacation destination featuring rollercoasters, rides, games and other beachside attractions.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History is popular place to go to for all things art.
Los Viejones is a great place to get some birria tacos in the Lower Ocean area.
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Riverside parks and greenways
Lower Ocean is bordered by the Santa Cruz Riverwalk, a 2.5-mile pedestrian and bike path that winds alongside the San Lorenzo River. It’s a scenic way to get from the beach all the way to Downtown Santa Cruz. The riverwalk is peppered with small parks, including Riverside Gardens, a local green space with a community garden, picnic tables and a playground. There’s also Mike Fox Skate Park, a popular spot for skaters and BMX bikers when the weather’s nice. Mimi De Marta Dog Park is a perfect spot to let the dogs scamper around in the sunshine. Santa Cruz Beach is only a few blocks away for those who want to surf, swim or lay out on a beach towel. The city is well-known as a West Coast surfing hotspot. "The rides are long, the waves are high quality and there are a lot of surf breaks. I’m 61 years old and I still get out and surf once a week,” Langholz says.
The Riverwalk is a great place to ride your bike in the Lower Ocean area.
There is a slide available at the Riverside Gardens Park.
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Santa Cruz public schools
Young students attend Gault Elementary School, which earns a C-plus rating from Niche. Sixth through eighth grade learners move on to A-minus-rated Branciforte Middle School, and upperclassmen attend A-rated Harbor High School. Harbor High offers a litany of career, technical and trade programs, including courses for students who want to specialize in agriculture, car repair, computer science, woodworking, welding and web design. The University of California, Santa Cruz is 2 miles west of the neighborhood. It enrolls around 20,000 students every year.
Discover foundational education at Gault Elementary School.
Harbor High School's dedicated teachers inspire critical thinking and creativity daily.
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Getting around Monterey Bay and beyond
Lower Ocean is about a mile from State Route 1, a commuter corridor that connects to coastal towns like Half Moon Bay and Capitola. It’s also only 2 miles from State Route 17, another commuter road that traverses the Santa Cruz Mountains on the way to Silicon Valley and San Jose. For those who prefer public transit, there are several Santa Cruz Metro bus lines available.
The State Route 1 is a great way to get around the Santa Cruz area.
It is easy to get around the Santa Cruz area with buses.
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Increased flood risk
Lower Ocean is at an increased risk of flooding and severe storms because of its location near the San Lorenzo River and the Santa Cruz oceanfront. The neighborhood is in a flood plain and many of its homes require flood insurance.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Are you familiar with the Lower Ocean neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Lower Ocean
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
8
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Lower Ocean Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lower Ocean, Santa Cruz sell after 24 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Lower Ocean, Santa Cruz over the last 12 months is $887,500, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Price reduced! Charming cottage in the central area of Santa Cruz close to the beach, boardwalk, shops and restaurants. Large lot allowing for tranquility and privacy. Three adjacent properties are also available for sale: 427 Barson St., 315 Ocean St (ML81977427), 311 Ocean St (ML81977425). Ideal for investors exchanging! Please do not disturb tenants!
Price reduced and sold together with 311 Ocean! This single level Spanish style home exudes old world charm. Originally built as a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home. The home currently functions as 2 separate units. One unit is 1 bedroom with living room, kitchenette and 1 bath and the other unit is 2 bedrooms, 1 bath with kitchen. Parking area is in the back of the building and each unit has 1 parking
Price reduced and sold together with 315 Ocean St(ML81977427)! This single level Spanish style home exudes old world charm. Originally built as a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home. The home currently functions as 3 separate units. All units are 1 bedroom with living room, kitchenette and 1 bath. Parking area is in the back of the building and each unit has 1 parking spot. There is plenty of off-street
This is a great space, usually quiet and peaceful. There are 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths. Everyone has their own bathroom. The available unfurnished room is downstairs. It's a medium size bedroom, about 11 X 11 feet with a private/attached bath and a closet that runs the length of the room. It also has a back entrance that leads out into the semi-enclosed back patio. We are a 12 minute walk to the
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
