Population 6,757 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Portola Valley
Household size in Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.84 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Portola Valley run a little small, averaging 2.55 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the center. Portola Valley has smaller households than the great majority of 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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.4 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 53.0 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 50.9 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 56.8 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Portola Valley skews older: half of its residents are older than 56.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 52.4 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only seven 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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 3.8% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.0% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 2.0% of households in Portola Valley, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 4.4 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only two 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 Portola Valley
Renters in Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.4% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.4% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.3% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Portola Valley is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (48.7%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.1% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.6% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.3% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy in Portola Valley is close to the national rate: 8.3% of homes are empty, against 9.6%. Vacancy has risen 1.6 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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1966 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1964 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Portola Valley is a place of older homes: half were built before 1966, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Portola Valley has older homes than at least four in five California cities.
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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,981 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,997 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,976 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,499 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,518 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Portola Valley pays $3,499 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,518 a month from 2006–10, a 77% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 49.2% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. Only two of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people 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 Portola Valley
Bachelor's degrees in Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.1% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 81.6% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 79.7% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 81.9% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | −2.2 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Portola Valley: 81.9% 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. The share with a degree has fallen 2.2 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose. Only ten 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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.1% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.6% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 96.3% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Portola Valley is above the national rate: 94.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 3.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
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 Portola Valley
| Period | Portola Valley | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.6% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.8 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Portola Valley than nationally: unemployment was 3.9%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 0.8 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally. 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).
Portola Valley 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portola Valley | 2.55 | 56.8 | 2.0% | 17.3% | 8.3% | 1966 | $3,499 | 81.9% | 94.2% | 3.9% |
| Sky Londa | 2.78 | 42.9 | 8.1% | 23.3% | 17.2% | 1965 | $2,317 | 64.4% | 92.6% | 1.9% |
| Stanford | 1.87 | 23.7 | 7.0% | 74.5% | 21.6% | 1989 | $1,998 | 88.8% | 96.0% | 10.0% |
| Los Altos Hills | 2.78 | 54.1 | 3.4% | 7.4% | 10.5% | 1975 | $3,488 | 83.8% | 98.9% | 3.4% |
| Woodside | 2.94 | 43.1 | 5.1% | 14.6% | 9.3% | 1966 | $3,298 | 74.5% | 99.0% | 4.3% |
| Atherton | 2.78 | 44.1 | 4.0% | 16.2% | 15.9% | 1963 | $3,422 | 80.5% | 97.7% | 3.7% |
| Palo Alto | 2.64 | 44.2 | 6.1% | 45.5% | 10.9% | 1964 | $3,187 | 82.7% | 96.8% | 4.2% |
| La Honda | 2.21 | 49.1 | 3.4% | 25.9% | 21.5% | 1956 | $1,744 | 63.8% | 86.6% | 2.7% |
| Menlo Park | 2.79 | 40.4 | 6.5% | 42.0% | 11.7% | 1967 | $3,095 | 72.5% | 92.5% | 5.0% |
| 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% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Winfield, MO · Chesapeake, OH · Winchester, IN · Windber, PA · Windsor, NC · Winfield, AL · Charlevoix, MI · Charlestown, RI · Winfield, IN · Chester, IL
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 Portola Valley. 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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