Population 954 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Palo Alto
Household size in Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.23 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.10 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Palo Alto is a place of small households, averaging 2.23 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.33, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.7 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.2 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.5 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Palo Alto is 43.2 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. That is in line with the rest of Pennsylvania.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.9% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Palo Alto than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Pennsylvania.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.2% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.2% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Palo Alto is largely a place of homeowners: only 20.7% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 46.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.2% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 14.6% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.0% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.8 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy runs a little high in Palo Alto: 12.0% of homes are empty, against 9.6% nationally. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1938 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1938 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1938 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1938 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | ±0 | +4 | +6 |
Palo Alto is a place of older homes: half were built before 1938, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $636 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $699 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $781 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $946 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$310 | +$494 | +$606 |
The median renter in Palo Alto pays $946 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 31.1% of household income on rent, just over 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 Palo Alto
Bachelor's degrees in Palo Alto
| Period | Palo Alto | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.4% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Palo Alto have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 11.7%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 86.2% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 84.9% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.1% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Palo Alto is close to the national rate: 88.9% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Pennsylvania as a whole (91.8%).
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 | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in Palo Alto than nationally: unemployment was 4.2%, against 5.4%. 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 | 2.23 | 43.2 | 9.8% | 20.7% | 12.0% | 1938 | $946 | 11.7% | 88.9% | 4.2% |
| Mechanicsville | 2.23 | 43.2 | 9.8% | 20.7% | 12.0% | 1938 | $946 | 11.7% | 88.9% | 4.2% |
| Port Carbon | 2.27 | 45.2 | 9.6% | 21.7% | 9.3% | 1939 | $908 | 13.9% | 92.2% | 4.5% |
| Mount Carbon | 2.31 | 56.1 | 6.1% | 8.2% | 4.5% | 1974 | $666 | 35.5% | 97.5% | 7.7% |
| Pottsville | 2.19 | 45.7 | 12.5% | 32.5% | 11.5% | 1949 | $821 | 22.2% | 91.6% | 6.6% |
| Cumbola | 2.68 | 44.0 | 14.0% | 16.8% | 21.6% | 1939 | $742 | 16.8% | 87.8% | 6.5% |
| St. Clair | 2.14 | 43.7 | 16.5% | 25.2% | 20.8% | 1939 | $1,158 | 16.7% | 95.2% | 2.5% |
| Glenworth | 2.27 | 57.2 | 6.6% | 8.6% | 4.2% | 1973 | $724 | 35.5% | 97.8% | 7.4% |
| Seltzer | 2.12 | 35.0 | 2.8% | 18.0% | 5.3% | 1978 | $496 | 31.9% | 94.8% | 0.0% |
| New Philadelphia | 2.22 | 46.1 | 15.2% | 25.0% | 19.7% | 1938 | $805 | 17.0% | 91.1% | 7.8% |
| Mar Lin | 2.12 | 35.0 | 2.8% | 18.0% | 5.3% | 1978 | $496 | 31.9% | 94.8% | 0.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Hardware, VA · Graytown, OH · Green River, UT · Greensboro, FL · Greenwood, MN · Greenwood, TX · Groveoak, AL · Hanna, IN · Happy, TX · Grapevine, AR
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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