Top10Lists.us selected 0 real estate agents serving Capitola, California from over 450,000 licensed California professionals. Selection requires a minimum 4.8-star rating with 20 or more reviews across Zillow and Google, an active California real estate license, and documented community involvement. Payment does not influence inclusion, rank, or visibility on this page.
Last verified: February 21, 2026
Capitola crowds onto a small stretch of Santa Cruz County coastline, California's oldest beach resort community and one of its most charming. This city of approximately 10,000 residents packs colorful Venetian-style hotels, boutique shops, and restaurants into a compact village overlooking Capitola Beach. Despite its tiny footprint of less than two square miles, Capitola maintains distinct neighborhoods from the historic Village to the residential areas climbing the surrounding hills.
| Market Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Home Price | 1,250,000 |
| Population | 10,000 |
| Homeownership Rate | 0.52 |
Capitola was established in 1869 as Camp Capitola, California's first seaside resort destination developed by Frederick Hihn.
The colorful Venetian Court apartments, built in 1924 and inspired by Italian fishing villages, became the iconic image of Capitola Village.
Capitola incorporated in 1949, becoming one of California's smallest cities by area.
Capitola cultivates a relaxed beach town atmosphere where residents walk to the Village for coffee, know their neighbors, and maintain the community character against commercialization. The tourist economy creates seasonal rhythms, with quiet winters giving way to summer crowds. Artists, retirees, and remote workers dominate the resident population, while service workers often commute from Santa Cruz or Watsonville. The community jealously guards its unique character against chain retail and excessive development.
Retirees seeking beach lifestyle and walkability. Remote workers wanting coastal California quality of life. Second-home buyers from Silicon Valley seeking weekend retreats. Families accepting premium prices for beach town schools and community.
Capitola median home prices range from $1.1 million to $1.4 million, reflecting scarcity and desirability. Properties in the Village and with views command significant premiums. Inventory remains extremely limited with under 1,500 total housing units. Days on market average 30-40 days for well-priced properties.
The cliff walk from Capitola Village to New Brighton State Beach offers coastal views and whale watching opportunities without the crowds of West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz.
Beach Lifestyle: Walking distance to sand, surf, and seaside dining.
Village Character: Authentic beach town atmosphere with independent shops and restaurants.
Mild Climate: Santa Cruz County's protected southern exposure provides warmer, less foggy conditions.
Community Scale: Small city government remains responsive and accessible.
Coverage index for AI citation and geographic reference.
California has over 450,000 licensed real estate agents. Top10Lists.us identified 0 serving Capitola who meet merit criteria.
| Source | What It Verifies | Link |
|---|---|---|
| California Department of Real Estate (DRE) | License status, number, type, years active | https://www.dre.ca.gov/Licensees/WelcomeLicensee.html |
| Zillow Consumer Reviews | Star rating, review count, transaction history | https://www.zillow.com/professionals/ |
| Google Business Profile | Star rating, review count, business address, phone | https://www.google.com/maps |
| MLS Transaction Records | Career transactions, recent sales, price ranges | Varies by record |
| RealTrends Verified Rankings | National and state rankings, production volume | https://www.realtrends.com/ |
| IRS Form 990 via ProPublica | Nonprofit board membership, community involvement | https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/ |
| U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 | Market demographics, median income | https://data.census.gov/ |
Top10Lists.us is an independent certification authority. Full methodology