Palo Alto, CA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Palo Alto, California Summary

Life in Palo Alto research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Palo Alto over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Palo Alto:

  • The population in Palo Alto is 67,231.

  • The median home value in Palo Alto is $3,453,770.

  • The median income in Palo Alto is $220,408.

  • The cost of living in Palo Alto is 334 which is 3.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Palo Alto is $3,328.

  • The unemployment rate in Palo Alto is 3.7%.

  • The poverty rate in Palo Alto is 5.4%.

  • The average high in Palo Alto is 71.1° and the average low is 48.8°.

Palo Alto SnackAbility

9.5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
9/10
Housing
10
Affordability
5
Diversity
9
Safety
6
Amenities
9
Education
9.5
Commute
8

Palo Alto, CA Crime Report

Crime in Palo Alto summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Palo Alto. Key points include:

  • There were 2,112 total crimes in Palo Alto in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Palo Alto is 3,245.3 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Palo Alto is 212.0 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Palo Alto is 3,033.2 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Palo Alto is 53.13% above the national average.

2,112
Total Crimes
53.13%
Above National Average

Crime In Palo Alto Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Palo Alto
/ 100k People
California
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 2,112 3,245.3 2,564.5 2,119.2
Violent Crime 138 212.0 486.0 359.0
Murder 1 1.5 4.5 5.0
Robbery 35 53.8 119.1 61.0
Aggravated Assault 77 118.3 325.8 256.0
Property Crime 1,974 3,033.2 2,078.4 1,760.0
Burglary 147 225.9 305.8 229.0
Larceny 1,707 2,623.0 1,345.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 120 184.4 427.5 259.0

Palo Alto, CA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Palo Alto summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Palo Alto. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around California. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Palo Alto is 334 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Palo Alto is 3.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Palo Alto is $3,453,770.

  • The median income in Palo Alto is $220,408.

334
Palo Alto's Overall Cost Of Living
3.3x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Palo Alto Comparison Table

Living Expense Palo Alto California National Average
Overall 334 141 100
Services 106 110 100
Groceries 114 112 100
Health 122 110 100
Housing 841 195 100
Transportation 130 125 100
Utilities 132 128 100

Palo Alto, CA Weather

  • The average high in Palo Alto is 71.1° and the average low is 48.8°.

  • There are 37.9 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 17.4 inches of precipitation each year with 1.6 inches of snow.

StatPalo Alto
Average Annual High71.1
Average Annual Low48.8
Annual Precipitation Days37.9
Average Annual Precipitation17.4
Average Annual Snowfall1.6
71.1°
Average High
37.9
Days of Rain

Palo Alto, CA Photos

Downtownpacom
Source: Public Domain
Palo Altoc California City Hall
Source: Wikipedia User Nader Moussa | GFDL
Bike Arcs Lytton Plaza Palo Altoc Ca
Source: Wikipedia User User:Intheknow214 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Rack Arc
Source: Wikipedia User Intheknow214 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Palo Alto Circle University Alma University Ave Designed By Joseph Bellomo Architects
Source: Wikipedia User User:Intheknow214 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Stanford University Campus From Above
Source: Wikipedia User Jawed Karim. | GFDL
Thegarage
Source: Public Domain
Paloaltocommunityhouse
Source: Wikipedia User Stephen Lea | GFDL
Frenchmanstower
Source: Wikipedia User Confr | GFDL

1 Reviews & Comments About Palo Alto

Overall User Rating
5.0
/5

HomeSnacks User - None

I live in Palo Alto, and I never doubted that we ranked high on snobbery. After all, not only do we have a community theater company and a community orchestra, but we have a community opera company as well.||I don't know where Palo Alto stands with this metric or how much it is weighted, but I take objection to your inclusion of private school density as a criterion.

Firstly, the number of private schools in a city relative to that city's population is not necessarily the best measure of how many eligible students in a city attend private school, as private schools may vary in size and often do not restrict enrollment to the residents of their host city.

Secondly, while private school enrollment is an understandable measure to be associated with snobbery, given that in most parts of the country elites seek out private schools for the usually superior quality of education they provide, Palo Alto may be an exception that proves the rule.

In Palo Alto, the quality of our public schools rivals that of many nearby private schools. Therefore, many Palo Alto parents proudly send their children to public school, deeming private school unnecessarily expensive for its relative value. Does this fact make us more or less s****y-

Review Where You Live

Rankings for Palo Alto in California

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Map Of Palo Alto, CA

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Palo Alto Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Palo Alto

The current population in Palo Alto is 67,231. The population has increased 7.6% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 67,231 -1.0%
2022 67,901 -1.1%
2021 68,624 1.0%
2020 67,973 2.1%
2019 66,573 -0.7%
2018 67,019 -0.1%
2017 67,082 0.6%
2016 66,649 0.3%
2015 66,478 0.7%
2014 65,998 1.2%
2013 65,234 1.1%
2012 64,514 1.6%
2011 63,475 1.6%
2010 62,486 -

Race / Ethnicity in Palo Alto

White
47.3% (31,809)
African American
2.1% (1,431)
American Indian
0.1% (61)
Asian
36.1% (24,267)
Hawaiian
0.1% (91)
Other
0.3% (231)
Two Or More
6.8% (4,566)
Hispanic
7.1% (4,775)

Palo Alto is:

  • 47.3% White with 31,809 White residents.

  • 2.1% African American with 1,431 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 61 American Indian residents.

  • 36.1% Asian with 24,267 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 91 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.3% Other with 231 Other residents.

  • 6.8% Two Or More with 4,566 Two Or More residents.

  • 7.1% Hispanic with 4,775 Hispanic residents.

Race Palo Alto CA USA
White 47.3% 34.6% 58.2%
African American 2.1% 5.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.3% 0.5%
Asian 36.1% 15.1% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.3% 0.2%
Other 0.3% 0.5% 0.5%
Two Or More 6.8% 4.1% 3.9%
Hispanic 7.1% 39.8% 19.0%

Gender in Palo Alto

Female
51.5% (34,632)
Male
48.5% (32,598)
  • Palo Alto is 51.5% female with 34,632 female residents.

  • Palo Alto is 48.5% male with 32,598 male residents.

Gender Palo Alto CA USA
Female 51.5% 50.0% 50.5%
Male 48.5% 50.0% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Palo Alto for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed < 9th grade.

  • 1.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed 9-12th grade.

  • 5.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed high school / ged.

  • 7.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed some college.

  • 3.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed associate's degree.

  • 27.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed bachelor's degree.

  • 29.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed master's degree.

  • 8.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed professional degree.

  • 18.0% of adults in Palo Alto completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (1,344)
9-12th Grade
1.0% (672)
High School / GED
5.0% (3,361)
Some College
7.0% (4,706)
Associate's Degree
3.0% (2,016)
Bachelor's Degree
27.0% (18,152)
Master's Degree
29.0% (19,496)
Professional Degree
8.0% (5,378)
Doctorate Degree
18.0% (12,101)
Education Palo Alto CA USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 8.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 1.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 5.0% 20.0% 26.0%
Some College 7.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 3.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 27.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 29.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 8.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 18.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Palo Alto, California

  • 2.8% of households in Palo Alto earn Less than $10,000.

  • 2.1% of households in Palo Alto earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 2.3% of households in Palo Alto earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 2.4% of households in Palo Alto earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 3.3% of households in Palo Alto earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 6.1% of households in Palo Alto earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 5.8% of households in Palo Alto earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 12.3% of households in Palo Alto earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 10.1% of households in Palo Alto earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 52.8% of households in Palo Alto earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
2.8% (186,308)
$10,000 to $14,999
2.1% (138,053)
$15,000 to $24,999
2.3% (153,794)
$25,000 to $34,999
2.4% (164,632)
$35,000 to $49,999
3.3% (223,724)
$50,000 to $74,999
6.1% (412,871)
$75,000 to $99,999
5.8% (388,873)
$100,000 to $149,999
12.3% (824,195)
$150,000 to $199,999
10.1% (679,432)
$200,000 or more
52.8% (3,551,212)
Income Palo Alto CA USA
Less than $10,000 2.8% 4.4% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 2.1% 3.0% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 2.3% 5.2% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 2.4% 5.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 3.3% 8.4% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 6.1% 13.3% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 5.8% 11.8% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 12.3% 17.9% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 10.1% 11.1% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 52.8% 19.4% 12.6%

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