Population 67,376 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Palo Alto
Household size in Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.50 | 2.97 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 3.05 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.58 | 3.07 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.96 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.15 | −0.00 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Palo Alto average 2.64 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is smaller than in the San Jose area overall, where it has 2.96 people. Household size has climbed from 2.50 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 36.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.8 | 37.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.5 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.2 | 39.4 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.4 | +2.8 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 44.2, Palo Alto 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 40.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the south, the oldest in the north.
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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.3% | 10.4% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 9.0% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.1% of households in Palo Alto, well below the national share of 11.6%. Palo Alto has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five 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 Palo Alto
Renters in Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.1% | 40.6% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 45.4% | 42.9% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 45.2% | 43.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 45.5% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +3.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Palo Alto than nationally: 45.5% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.1% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the north. The renter share has risen 3.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 6.2% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 4.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.8% | 5.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.9% | 6.4% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +0.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Palo Alto as nationally: 10.9%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the San Jose area overall (6.4%). Vacancy has risen 3.9 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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1960 | 1973 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1974 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1975 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1977 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Palo Alto is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1960 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,685 | $1,524 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,888 | $1,670 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,672 | $2,389 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,187 | $2,873 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,503 | +$1,348 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Palo Alto runs $3,187 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,503 a month since 2006–10, up 89%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 25.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 34 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 Palo Alto
Bachelor's degrees in Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 79.2% | 43.9% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 80.1% | 46.5% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 83.2% | 51.6% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 82.7% | 55.3% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +11.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Palo Alto is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (82.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 3.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only seven 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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.6% | 85.5% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.4% | 86.4% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.5% | 88.1% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 89.0% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Palo Alto: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate rose. Palo Alto has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five California cities.
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 Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | San Jose area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 7.9% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.1% | 4.4% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 4.9% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −3.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Palo Alto runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.9 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Palo Alto 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| East Palo Alto | 3.72 | 36.3 | 12.9% | 50.8% | 10.8% | 1965 | $2,599 | 27.8% | 76.1% | 4.5% |
| Menlo Park | 2.79 | 40.4 | 6.5% | 42.0% | 11.7% | 1967 | $3,095 | 72.5% | 92.5% | 5.0% |
| Mountain View | 2.42 | 36.8 | 6.4% | 62.4% | 9.8% | 1977 | $3,009 | 74.6% | 95.0% | 3.7% |
| Atherton | 2.78 | 44.1 | 4.0% | 16.2% | 15.9% | 1963 | $3,422 | 80.5% | 97.7% | 3.7% |
| 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% |
| North Fair Oaks | 3.70 | 34.7 | 16.9% | 59.7% | 6.9% | 1967 | $2,231 | 20.1% | 70.3% | 8.8% |
| Portola Valley | 2.55 | 56.8 | 2.0% | 17.3% | 8.3% | 1966 | $3,499 | 81.9% | 94.2% | 3.9% |
| Redwood City | 2.78 | 39.7 | 8.3% | 48.1% | 7.1% | 1970 | $3,033 | 55.4% | 87.4% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Huntington, WV · Waterloo, IA · West Des Moines, IA · Bethesda, MD · North Port, FL · Lakewood, WA · The Colony, TX · Kokomo, IN · Kingsport, TN · Hilliard, OH
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 Palo Alto. 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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