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CITY · INCORPORATED 1923

Atherton

California · 6,960 residents (2025 est.) · 5.016 sq mi
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Part of the San Francisco metro area
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Notable rankings
#1Highest median household incomeof 6,818$250,001#1Most expensive homesof 6,786$2,000,001#1Highest median rentof 6,764$3,501#29Most work-from-homeof 6,82640.8%
The short version

Atherton is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $250,001. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 83% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $2,000,001. With a median age of 49.1, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. It ranks in the top 1% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 49.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
83% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,993
−3%since 2000
from 7,194 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,394 / sq mi
−4%since 2009
from 1,449 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
49.1
+8%since 2000
from 45.3 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,960 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K7K7K1990201020202024Atherton
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.1%(147)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 92.9%(205)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148.4%(589)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 1911.2%(785)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 249.3%(652)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347%(488)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 444.4%(308)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5414.7%(1,030)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.2%(996)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(824)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8410.4%(724)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.5%(245)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$250,001
−31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $200,001 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$188,631
+68%since 2000
from $112,408 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
88.5%
+5.9 ptssince 2009
from 82.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
5.3%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 1.7% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.532
Unchangedsince 2010
from 0.531 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Other services16.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration11.4%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade9.6%
US avg: 9.9%
Information8.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Arts, entertainment, food4.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.7%
US avg: 2.2%
Wholesale trade1%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance0.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical0.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$2,000,001
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,000,001 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$3,501
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $2,001 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
87.6%
−7.3 ptssince 2000
from 94.8% in 2000
12.4% rent
Vacancy rate
16.5%
+7.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
38.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
19.1%
−5.4 ptssince 2009
from 24.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
8.0
+48%since 2009
from 5.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
39
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Atherton on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.7%(6,022)
Black0.7%(50)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(200)
Asian9.8%(704)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic62%(4,338)
Black0.9%(64)
Hispanic / Latino14.2%(992)
Asian18%(1,256)
Other4.9%(343)
Diversity Score
70
+83%since 2009
from 38 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican7.4%(518)
Spaniard3.1%(219)
Peruvian2.3%(159)
Puerto Rican0.3%(21)
Dominican0.2%(16)
Venezuelan0.2%(16)
Nicaraguan0.2%(11)
Argentine0.1%(8)
Salvadoran0.1%(4)
Asian origin
Chinese11.3%(792)
Asian Indian2.2%(155)
Filipino1.2%(86)
Korean0.8%(56)
Japanese0.7%(46)
Vietnamese0.5%(36)
Pakistani0.2%(17)
Taiwanese0.1%(6)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
English11.5%(804)
German10.6%(743)
Irish9.8%(685)
Italian7.6%(534)
Scottish3.4%(238)
Danish3.2%(225)
French2.8%(193)
Swiss2.4%(167)
Swedish2%(143)
Polish1.8%(127)
American1.8%(125)
Dutch1.6%(115)
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1.6%(109)
British1.5%(104)
Iranian1.4%(100)
Lithuanian1.4%(99)
Belgian1.3%(91)
Macedonian1.1%(77)
Russian1%(70)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(64)
Czech0.7%(48)
Greek0.7%(48)
Austrian0.5%(35)
Arab0.4%(31)
Moroccan0.4%(31)
Welsh0.4%(26)
Serbian0.4%(25)
Australian0.2%(15)
Hungarian0.2%(13)
Ukrainian0.2%(13)
Armenian0.2%(12)
Portuguese0.1%(10)
Turkish0.1%(10)
Romanian0.1%(8)
Croatian0.1%(5)
RANKED:Largest English population · Largest Chinese population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
83.1%
+6.9 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.6%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 96.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
52.3%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 40.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.2 min
+47%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
44.9%
−32.7 ptssince 2009
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.0%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.7%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
40.8%
+28.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.8%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
1.7%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.2%
−3.5 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
48.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2011
from 48.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
7.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
79.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 80.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
49.4%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
20.5%
+6.7 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
3.4%
−44.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
8.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 7.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
1.7%
−96.2 ptssince 2013
from 97.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
97.6%
+3.2 ptssince 2017
from 94.4% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
71.0%
−10.5 ptssince 2016
from 81.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2016
from 2.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married36.1%(1,085)
Married58.1%(1,745)
Widowed2.6%(78)
Divorced3.1%(94)
Women 15+
Never married29.2%(891)
Married59%(1,801)
Widowed7.5%(229)
Divorced4.2%(129)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Atherton, California?

Atherton, California has about 6,993 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Atherton, California?

The typical household in Atherton, California earns about $250,001 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Atherton, California expensive?

In Atherton, California, the median home is worth about $2,000,001, and the typical rent is about $3,501 a month.

How educated are people in Atherton, California?

About 83.1% of adults age 25 and over in Atherton, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Atherton, California?

About 5.3% of people in Atherton, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Atherton, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Atherton, California has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 170 residents, a change of about -2 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →