Zumper
modified
8 Hours Ago

Highlights

  • Pet Friendly
  • Heated outdoor swimming pool
  • Stainless-steel appliances
  • Sleek finishes
  • Wood-style flooring
  • In-unit washer/dryer
  • Coastal community

Location

1630 Merrill St, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, USA
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Contact

Management

Rutherford Management Company

Leasing office

(831) 476-5288

Open 

9:00 am–6:00 pm PT

Property Overview

Breakwater Apartments is a strong all-around option, with an expert rating of 8.4/10 and especially high scores for price (10/10), location (9/10), amenities (8/10), and trustworthiness (8/10). Residents can enjoy features like a heated outdoor pool, in-unit washer/dryer, stainless-steel appliances, and wood-style flooring in a coastal community, along with excellent value for money and detailed listing photos. The property is also convenient to nearby highly rated schools and is particularly appealing for pet owners, with multiple grooming and pet supply services close by.

This summary uses Zumper’s proprietary data. “Zumper Expert Ratings,” “Things you’ll love,” and “Great for” are based on our internal analyses of market trends and renter insights.

Zumper Expert Rating

8.4
Very Good
With a solid 8.4 out of 10 overall, Breakwater Apartments is a great option for renters. While some aspects, like Quality, might not be as distinguished as other properties nearby, Breakwater Apartments has a number of attractive features—namely its Price— so you can be assured your rent will come with a high standard of living.

Things you’ll love

  • Less expensive
  • Middle school nearby
  • More space

Great for

  • Pet owners

Floor plans

B12 bed1 bath860 sqft$3,595–$4,007 /mo1 unit available
C13 bed2 bath955 sqft$4,034–$4,707 /mo1 unit available

Let's explore this property.

Amenities for Breakwater Apartments

Appliances

In-Unit Laundry

Building

Cats OKDogs OK
Units, floor plans, amenities, dimensions, details, availability, and prices may be approximate and subject to change. Please contact a community representative for more information.

Policies and fees

Applicants

Applicants

One-time.

Contact Property

REQUIRED FEES

Security Deposit

One-time. Refundable.

Contact Property

Dog Policy

Allowed
Limit2

Cat Policy

Allowed
Limit2

Questions about this property’s policies and fees?

Building details

Property details

Year built1972
Units100
Lease terms3–15 months
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About Breakwater Apartments

HomeApartments in Santa Cruz Breakwater Apartments

Discover Breakwater Apartments, a coastal community in Santa Cruz offering modern one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes. Each home boasts sleek finishes like stainless-steel appliances, wood-style flooring, private balconies or patios, and in-unit washer/dryer. Community amenities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, a well-equipped fitness center, and easy beach access just steps away. Located near UCSC, Dominican Hospital, shopping, and dining, Breakwater blends relaxed seaside charm with everyday convenience.


Year Built: 1972

Zumper Expert Rating

Our expert rating is based on a weighted average score of property attributes that renters care about most: price, amenities, location, quality, and trust.
8.4
/10
Very Good
With a solid 8.4 out of 10 overall, Breakwater Apartments is a great option for renters. While some aspects, like Quality, might not be as distinguished as other properties nearby, Breakwater Apartments has a number of attractive features—namely its Price— so you can be assured your rent will come with a high standard of living.
How we rated Breakwater Apartments
Price·10A score that weighs the cost and location of the property, which we calculate by comparing rent prices of recent units to the median price of nearby rentals, adjusting for overall quality and features.
Breakwater Apartments offers an excellent balance between price and value. It's priced competitively for its amenities, location, and other key features. Compared to the median price per bedroom in the area, this property is less than, or about the same as, nearby rentals, so residents can expect great value without too many compromises on their desired standard of living.
Amenities·8A score based on the amenities offered at this property compared to other rentals in the area. We consider the quantity, quality, and popularity of features both on site and within the units.
With multiple in-demand amenities, Breakwater Apartments is committed to enhancing the renting experience. And while it may have fewer total conveniences and features than similar rentals nearby, it remains a top choice for renters wanting an specific standard of living.
Location·9A score based on proximity and ease of access to shops, restaurants, schools, and public transportation while considering the desirability of the area.
Breakwater Apartments is exceptional when it comes to location and conveniences. Communication with management or leasing staff is usually quick and easy and they often use advanced scheduling and communication tools to streamline the process. The location of this property offers easy access to popular points of interest in the area and options for getting around.
Quality·6A score based on what makes the property stand out, such as luxury features, unique offerings, age of the building, and our ability to verify the accuracy of these details.
While Breakwater Apartments does not have many hallmark characteristics to highlight, it has some qualities and features that will resonate with a broad range of renters.
Trustworthiness·8A score based on the accuracy, completeness, recency, and usefulness of the information provided by this property, so you can trust that what you see is what you get.
The level of transparency this property provides distinguishes it as a great rental. With a high attention to detail and desirable features, renters can be sure they will get an accurate picture of their potential new home.

Breakwater Apartments is great for:

Pet owners

  • 4 pet grooming services nearby
  • 6 pet supply stores near the property

Property highlights

We compared every listing in the surrounding area to determine which amenities are most common. If a building lacks an amenity that most others in the area have, it is a con. If a building has an amenity most others in the area do not, it is a pro. Similarly, price, schools, and size are calculated relative to the size, price, and distance to schools of the other properties nearby.

How Breakwater Apartments compares to other nearby properties.

Positives

Less expensive
The 2-bedrooms are cheaper than other similar listings nearby
Middle school nearby
There is a middle school 0.2 mile away
More space
The 1-bedroom is 74 sqft larger than other listings nearby
Elementary school nearby
There is an elementary school 0.2 mile away
More space
The 2-bedroom is 120 sqft larger than other listings nearby
Images Available
There are at least 10 photos of this address
Pet friendly
This property allows pets

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Rent trends in Santa Cruz

If you decide to upgrade your space, you can expect 2-bedrooms at Breakwater Apartments to be 1% less than the average for similarly sized apartments in Santa Cruz.

3-bedroom apartments at Breakwater Apartments cost about 12% less than the average rent price for 3-bedroom apartments in Santa Cruz.

Median rents as of May 9 2026.
Santa Cruz
A table of studio rental data trends in Santa Cruz
MonthMedian Rent
May 2024$1,975
June 2024$1,970
July 2024$2,400
August 2024$2,210
September 2024$2,250
October 2024$2,144
November 2024$2,078
December 2024$1,772
January 2025$1,925
February 2025$2,225
March 2025$1,805
April 2025$1,848
May 2025$1,989
June 2025$1,948
July 2025$1,890
August 2025$2,147
September 2025$2,058
October 2025$1,894
November 2025$2,003
December 2025$2,143
January 2026$2,207
February 2026$2,372
March 2026$2,723
April 2026$2,880
May 2026$2,877

Affordability calculator

Can I afford to live at 1630 Merrill St?

Bedrooms

Rent-to-income ratio

30%

Slide to adjust the percentage of your monthly income you are willing to spend on rent.
The general rule of thumb is to spend around 30% or less of your income on rent.
Recommended income

$143,800/yr

With your selected rent-to-income ratio, you'd ideally want to make $143,800 annually to afford this 2-bedrooms monthly rent price of $3,595.
For more information on rent affordability, visit our rent calculator.

Schools near Breakwater Apartments

Del Mar Elementary School

1959 merrill st

santa cruz, CA, 95062

K-5Public
B

Ocean Alternative Education Center

984 bostwick ln ste 6

santa cruz, CA, 95062

K-8Public
B

Alternative Family Education

840 n branciforte ave

santa cruz, CA, 95062

K-12Public
B

Santa Cruz County Special Education

400 encinal st

santa cruz, CA, 95060

K-12Public

Happy Valley Elementary School

3125 branciforte dr

santa cruz, CA, 95065

K-6Public
A
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Internet available near Breakwater Apartments

Neighborhood

NEIGHBORHOOD VIBE
Peaceful and quiet
Noise-canceling headphones not required in this mostly noise free area.

Getting around Santa Cruz near 1630 Merrill St

Walking

4/10
Some shops and stores are within a few minutes.

Driving

9/10
Commuting is easy with multiple accessible routes and plenty of parking.

Cycling

6/10
Peddling isn’t a problem with cyclist-friendly streets and bikeable destinations.

Transit

4/10
There are a few mass transit options within the area.

Points of interest for 1630 Merrill St, Santa Cruz

Groceries

5/10
At least one grocery store within a 30-minute walk

Shopping

5/10
Variety of shops within walking distance

Cafes

6/10
Some cafés within walking distance

Restaurants

5/10
Some restaurants within walking distance

Primary schools

10/10
At least one elementary school within a 5-minute walk

High schools

10/10
At least one high school within a 5-minute walk

Nightlife

2/10
Few or no bars within walking distance

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