Rio del Mar is a community in Santa Cruz County, California, home to about 9,201 people across 3.0 square miles. Its ZIP code is 95003.
Homes sold for a median of $764 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Rio del Mar; also Aptos and Seacliff
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Rio del Mar. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Rio del Mar’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Rio del Mar well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)27 miles away |
|---|---|
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | San Jose, CA22 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Los Angeles, CA283 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Rio del Mar; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Rio del Mar had 9,128 residents in the 2020 census, down 1% since 2000.
It’s the 513th largest of 1,563 towns in California by population.
Santa Cruz County grew from 21,512 residents in 1900 to 270,861 in 2020.
Santa Cruz County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 77°F in summer, and winter lows average 41°F. About 30.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Santa Cruz, CA weather station (6 miles away).
80,209 jobs at 7,136 businesses in Santa Cruz County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
237 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Rio del Mar.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 25 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 13 |
| Dentists | 26 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 20 |
| Mental health providers | 101 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 34 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 17 |
| Pharmacies | 4 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (3 nearby)
Grocery stores (5 nearby)
Pharmacies (2 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1.5 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Pajaro Valley Unified, Santa Cruz City High. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar Vista ElementaryAptos | K–6 | 270 | Public | 1.6 mi |
| Rio del Mar ElementaryAptos | K–6 | 393 | Public | 1.6 mi |
| Valencia ElementaryAptos | K–6 | 487 | Public | 0.3 mi |
| Aptos Junior HighAptos | 7–8 | 587 | Public | 0.5 mi |
| Aptos HighAptos | 9–12 | 1,274 | Public | 1.6 mi |
| Delta CharterAptos | 9–12 | 113 | Charter | 2.0 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orchard SchoolAptos | K–6 | 55 | Nonsectarian | 1.2 mi |
| Twin Lakes Christian SchoolAptos | K–8 | 391 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 2.2 mi |
| Seacliff AcademyAptos | 3–12 | 25 | Nonsectarian | 0.9 mi |
| Oasis, Outdoor Autism/Special Issues SchoolAptos | Ungraded | 1 | Nonsectarian | 0.5 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Rio del Mar? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Aptos, Seacliff, Day Valley, Soquel and Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.