Population 85,665 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Mountain View
Household size in Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.34 | 2.97 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.42 | 2.96 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.08 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Mountain View run small, averaging 2.42 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has crept up from 2.34 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. Mountain View has smaller households than at least four in five California cities.
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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 37.2 | 36.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.7 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.2 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 36.8 | 39.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Mountain View is 36.8 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 37.2, even as the national median rose.
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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Mountain View, well below the national share of 11.6%. Mountain View has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
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 Mountain View
Renters in Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 59.6% | 40.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 60.0% | 42.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 59.2% | 43.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 62.4% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Mountain View rent: 62.4% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. Among homeowners, 37.2% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.8 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 6.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.3% | 4.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 5.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Mountain View is close to the national rate: 9.8% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the San Jose area as a whole (6.4%). Vacancy has risen 3.3 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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1971 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Mountain View are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1971 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the east, the oldest in the southwest.
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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,488 | $1,524 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,687 | $1,670 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,445 | $2,389 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,009 | $2,873 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,521 | +$1,348 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Mountain View pays $3,009 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,521 a month from 2006–10, a 102% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 24.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Mountain View
Bachelor's degrees in Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 58.7% | 43.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 64.0% | 46.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 70.0% | 51.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 74.6% | 55.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +15.9 pts | +11.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Mountain View: 74.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 15.9 points, mirroring the country. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 32 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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.8% | 86.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 88.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.5 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Mountain View: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 4.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Mountain View
| Period | Mountain View | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.0% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.7% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Mountain View than nationally: unemployment was 3.7%, against 5.4%. Only 58 of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people have lower unemployment. Unemployment has fallen 2.3 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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).
Mountain View 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View | 2.42 | 36.8 | 6.4% | 62.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $3,009 | 74.6% | 95.0% | 3.7% |
| Los Altos | 2.79 | 46.7 | 4.5% | 21.9% | 8.1% | 1967 | $3,499 | 86.7% | 98.7% | 4.8% |
| Los Altos Hills | 2.78 | 54.1 | 3.4% | 7.4% | 10.5% | 1975 | $3,488 | 83.8% | 98.9% | 3.4% |
| Sunnyvale | 2.60 | 37.6 | 6.5% | 56.1% | 5.6% | 1977 | $3,105 | 69.6% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
| Palo Alto | 2.64 | 44.2 | 6.1% | 45.5% | 10.9% | 1964 | $3,187 | 82.7% | 96.8% | 4.2% |
| Stanford | 1.87 | 23.7 | 7.0% | 74.5% | 21.6% | 1989 | $1,998 | 88.8% | 96.0% | 10.0% |
| 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% |
| Alviso | 2.95 | 47.6 | 3.8% | 26.8% | 6.8% | 1999 | $2,104 | 38.5% | 78.2% | 5.3% |
| Santa Clara | 2.57 | 36.3 | 5.1% | 58.4% | 6.7% | 1977 | $2,986 | 66.4% | 93.4% | 4.9% |
| Menlo Park | 2.79 | 40.4 | 6.5% | 42.0% | 11.7% | 1967 | $3,095 | 72.5% | 92.5% | 5.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bloomington, IL · Bellevue, WA · Bowling Green, KY · Brooklyn, NY · Brooklyn Park, MN · Birmingham, AL · Brockton, MA · Bloomington, MN · Bethlehem, PA · Bloomington, IN
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 Mountain View. 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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