What Is 80% AMI in Santa Cruz County, Arizona?
The Area Median Income in Santa Cruz County is $66,100 for a family of four, meaning 80% AMI is $56,000 and 50% AMI is $35,000.
2025 AMI Breakdown — Santa Cruz County
| AMI Tier | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI | $15,650 | $21,150 | $26,650 | $32,150 | $37,650 | $40,600 | $43,400 | $46,200 |
| 50% AMI | $24,500 | $28,000 | $31,500 | $35,000 | $37,800 | $40,600 | $43,400 | $46,200 |
| 60% AMI | $27,750 | $31,750 | $35,700 | $39,650 | $42,850 | $46,000 | $49,200 | $52,350 |
| 80% AMI | $39,200 | $44,800 | $50,400 | $56,000 | $60,500 | $65,000 | $69,450 | $73,950 |
| 100% AMI | $46,250 | $52,900 | $59,500 | $66,100 | $71,400 | $76,700 | $81,950 | $87,250 |
| 120% AMI | $55,500 | $63,450 | $71,400 | $79,300 | $85,650 | $92,000 | $98,350 | $104,700 |
30%, 50%, and 80% AMI figures are published directly by HUD. The 60%, 100%, and 120% AMI tiers are derived from the median income using HUD's standard household size adjustment factors. This product uses the HUD User Data API but is not endorsed or certified by HUD User.
Program Eligibility at Each AMI Threshold
$32,150
Extremely Low Income
Priority for public housing and project-based Section 8.
4-person household
$35,000
Very Low Income
Eligible for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV).
4-person household
$39,650
LIHTC Threshold
Maximum income for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units.
4-person household
$56,000
Low Income
Eligible for HOME Investment Partnership grants.
4-person household
80% AMI by Household Size
How the 80% AMI limit scales from a single-person household to an 8-person household in Santa Cruz County. Find where your household size lands.
How Santa Cruz County Compares
Local AMI (4-person)
$66,100
Santa Cruz County
Statewide AMI (4-person)
$101,100
Arizona
National Median (2024)
$96,300
National
Santa Cruz County is a lower-cost market — the local AMI of $66,100 falls well below the national median of $96,300 and the Arizona statewide average of $101,100. Income qualification thresholds for federal housing programs are correspondingly lower, meaning that a household relocating from a higher-AMI market might not qualify for the same programs here. For developers, lower AMI levels typically mean tighter operating margins on LIHTC projects.
Rent Affordability in Santa Cruz County
Using the standard 30% rule — a household should spend no more than 30% of gross income on housing — here's the maximum affordable monthly rent at each AMI tier for a 4-person household.
30% AMI
$804/mo
Based on $32,150 annual income
50% AMI
$875/mo
Based on $35,000 annual income
80% AMI
$1,400/mo
Based on $56,000 annual income
The 30% Rule:HUD defines a household as "cost-burdened" when it spends more than 30% of gross income on housing costs (rent plus utilities). Households exceeding 50% are considered "severely cost-burdened." In Santa Cruz County, a family of four earning exactly at 50% AMI ($35,000) should aim to keep total housing costs below $875 per month to avoid cost burden.
Who Uses This Data
Renters
"Am I eligible for affordable housing in Santa Cruz County?" If your household income falls below the 50% or 80% AMI threshold shown above, you may qualify for Section 8 vouchers, LIHTC apartments, or other subsidized housing programs in the area.
Developers
"Does this market support LIHTC underwriting?" The 60% AMI limit in Santa Cruz County sets the maximum tenant income for tax credit units. Higher AMI areas generally support stronger rent levels within LIHTC compliance, improving project feasibility.
Caseworkers & Planners
"What programs can my clients access?" Use the AMI breakdown for Santa Cruz County to quickly determine which federal, state, and local housing programs a household qualifies for based on family size and income level.
What These Numbers Mean For You
In Santa Cruz County, the 2025 Area Median Income of $66,100 falls below the national median of $96,300. This means federal housing program income limits are set lower here — a household must earn less to qualify for the same programs that serve higher-income families in costlier markets.
For renters, the lower AMI can be a double-edged sword. While qualification thresholds are more accessible (50% AMI is just $35,000 for a 4-person household), the affordable rent ceiling of $875/month at that level may more closely align with actual market rents in Santa Cruz County— potentially reducing the gap between "affordable" and "available."
For developers, the lower AMI tightens the economics of LIHTC projects. The 60% AMI cap for a 4-person household in Santa Cruz County is $39,650, which constrains maximum allowable rents and may require additional subsidies or creative financing to achieve feasibility. For city planners in Arizona, the gap between Santa Cruz County's AMI and the statewide average of $101,100 highlights regional economic disparities worth addressing in housing policy.