Population 8,855 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Los Altos Hills
Household size in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.84 | 2.97 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.72 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.78 | 2.96 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
The typical household in Los Altos Hills holds 2.78 people, slightly more than the U.S. average of 2.65. Locally, though, the typical household here is smaller than in the San Jose area overall, where it has 2.96 people. Household size has edged down from 2.84 in 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.2 | 36.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 49.8 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.9 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 54.1 | 39.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.9 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 54.1, Los Altos Hills is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. The median age has climbed from 49.2 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only ten of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.8% | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.3% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 3.4% of households in Los Altos Hills, well below the national share of 11.6%. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Los Altos Hills
Renters in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 40.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 42.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 9.0% | 43.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 7.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 7.4% of households in Los Altos Hills rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 43.2% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged down 1.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only six have a lower share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 6.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 4.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.4% | 5.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Los Altos Hills as nationally: 10.5%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider San Jose area (6.4%). Vacancy has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1975 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Los Altos Hills run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1975 against 1980. That is in line with the rest of the San Jose area. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,825 | $1,524 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,996 | $1,670 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,933 | $2,389 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,488 | $2,873 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,664 | +$1,348 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Los Altos Hills pays $3,488 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,664 a month from 2006–10, a 91% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 37.9% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only four have higher rents.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Los Altos Hills
Bachelor's degrees in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 81.8% | 43.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 83.8% | 46.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 85.7% | 51.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 83.8% | 55.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +11.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Los Altos Hills is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (83.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 1.9 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. Only five of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.7% | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.2% | 86.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.3% | 88.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.9% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Los Altos Hills: 98.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Only nine of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Los Altos Hills
| Period | Los Altos Hills | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.5% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.2% | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.4% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.1 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Los Altos Hills runs below the national rate: 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Only 38 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Los Altos Hills compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Altos Hills | 2.78 | 54.1 | 3.4% | 7.4% | 10.5% | 1975 | $3,488 | 83.8% | 98.9% | 3.4% |
| Los Altos | 2.79 | 46.7 | 4.5% | 21.9% | 8.1% | 1967 | $3,499 | 86.7% | 98.7% | 4.8% |
| Mountain View | 2.42 | 36.8 | 6.4% | 62.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $3,009 | 74.6% | 95.0% | 3.7% |
| Stanford | 1.87 | 23.7 | 7.0% | 74.5% | 21.6% | 1989 | $1,998 | 88.8% | 96.0% | 10.0% |
| Portola Valley | 2.55 | 56.8 | 2.0% | 17.3% | 8.3% | 1966 | $3,499 | 81.9% | 94.2% | 3.9% |
| Palo Alto | 2.64 | 44.2 | 6.1% | 45.5% | 10.9% | 1964 | $3,187 | 82.7% | 96.8% | 4.2% |
| Sunnyvale | 2.60 | 37.6 | 6.5% | 56.1% | 5.6% | 1977 | $3,105 | 69.6% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Menlo Park | 2.79 | 40.4 | 6.5% | 42.0% | 11.7% | 1967 | $3,095 | 72.5% | 92.5% | 5.0% |
| Cupertino | 2.80 | 42.2 | 4.5% | 40.7% | 6.4% | 1974 | $3,364 | 81.8% | 97.1% | 4.1% |
| East Palo Alto | 3.72 | 36.3 | 12.9% | 50.8% | 10.8% | 1965 | $2,599 | 27.8% | 76.1% | 4.5% |
| Atherton | 2.78 | 44.1 | 4.0% | 16.2% | 15.9% | 1963 | $3,422 | 80.5% | 97.7% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Stewartstown, PA · Graniteville, SC · Gray Court, SC · Gray, ME · Springs, NY · St. Augustine Beach, FL · St. Francis, MN · Stacy, MN · Ste. Genevieve, MO · Granby, CT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Los Altos Hills. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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