Palo Alto, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 67,237 Household income: $231,101 Rent: $3,484

Overview

Total population

67,237

Rent

$3,484

Year built

1963

Household income

$231,101

Per capita income

$123,939

Poverty rate

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

42%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

67,237

Adults over 25

48,587

Total households

26,021

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$231,101

Per capita income

$123,939

Poverty rate

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Rent over 30% of income

42%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$3,484

Year built

1963

Households that rent

45.4%

Households that own

54.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

45.7%

Black

1.8%

Asian

38.1%

Two or more races

9.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

64.6%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

35.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

8.6%

High school graduate or GED

5.3%

Some college or associate degree

3.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

82.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Palo Alto, CA with: California United States

Palo Alto, CA

Total population67,237

Rent$3,484

Year built1963

Household income$231,101

Per capita income$123,939

Poverty rate6%

Unemployment rate3.5%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityPalo Alto, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	67,237	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$3,484	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1963	1976	1980
Household income	$231,101	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$123,939	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	6%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Palo Alto, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto is located in California.

Rent & Income

In Palo Alto, the typical monthly rent is $3,484 and the typical household income is $231,101. Rent here is higher than in both California and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 6%, which is lower than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 45.4% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 82.3% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is lower than both California and the national rate.

Palo Alto, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Palo Alto, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Palo Alto, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$3,484	179 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$231,101	2 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	6%	20 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	3.5%	13 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Palo Alto, CA

Rent

Rent prices put Palo Alto in 179th place among 180 large communities in California. Across California, rents range from $1,148 in Porterville, CA up to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

For median household income, Palo Alto is ranked 2nd out of 180 large areas. Statewide incomes span from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

Palo Alto places 20th out of 180 large communities for poverty. Statewide figures move from 4.1% in Cupertino, CA up to 26.5% in Davis, CA.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Palo Alto ranks 13th out of 180 large places. Across California, unemployment ranges from 2.9% in Santa Barbara, CA to 18.2% in Delano, CA.

💰 Rent in Palo Alto, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $3,484 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Palo Alto, CA

Annual Household Income: $231,101

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Palo Alto, CA

Estimated Rate: 6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Palo Alto, CA

In Palo Alto, CA, households that rent: 11,804 (45.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,804	45.4%
Owner-Occupied	14,217	54.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Palo Alto, CA

In Palo Alto, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 4,957 (42%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	4,957	42%
Other renter households	6,847	58%
Total renter households	11,804	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Palo Alto, CA

Less than High School: 4,196 people (8.6%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 2,594 people (5.3%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 1,807 people (3.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 39,990 people (82.3%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 48,587

📊 Unemployment Rate in Palo Alto, CA

Estimated Rate: 3.5%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Rockville, MD67,218 Madera, CA67,133 Haverhill, MA67,387 Yorba Linda, CA67,407 Grand Junction, CO67,027 Lodi, CA67,008 Waterloo, IA66,947 Delray Beach, FL66,940 Davis, CA66,801 Apex, NC67,765

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.