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CITY · INCORPORATED 1923 · 2000 CENSUS

Atherton

California · 7,194 residents · 5.02 sq mi
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The short version

Atherton is home to 7,194 people in California. Households here earn about 321% more than in California as a whole. Median household income runs $200,001, well clear of the $42,589 US median. This is an unusually credentialed place: 76% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $1,000,001, having more than doubled since 1990. Median rent is $2,001 a month.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $200,000+, above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 45.3
US median: 35.2
More educated
76% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Top-priced homes
median home value $1,000,000+, the Census reporting cap
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,194
Unchangedsince 1990
from 7,163 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,434 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 1990
from 1,428 / sq mi in 1990
US average: 242
Median age
45.3
+2%since 1990
from 44.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
5.02 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K7K7K19902000201020202024Atherton
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 55.2%(371)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97.1%(510)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.5%(539)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 196.8%(491)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.3%(311)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 345.6%(403)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4413.1%(940)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5417.1%(1,230)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6413.2%(948)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 749.7%(695)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 848%(573)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.5%(183)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$200,000+
from $130,734 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$112,408
+76%since 1990
from $63,919 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
1.7%
−2.3 ptssince 1990
from 4.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,000,000+
from $500,000+ in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$2,000+
from $1,000+ in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
94.8%
+1.5 ptssince 1990
from 93.3% in 1990
5.2% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic88.5%(6,338)
Black0.2%(16)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(276)
Asian7.3%(523)
2000
White, non-Hispanic83.7%(6,022)
Black0.7%(50)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(200)
Asian9.8%(704)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
76.2%
+7.9 ptssince 1990
from 68.3% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
96.7%
+0.5 ptssince 1990
from 96.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
40.2%
+6.4 ptssince 1990
from 33.8% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
15.8 min
−38%since 1990
from 25.4 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.9%(691)
Married69.6%(1,934)
Widowed2.2%(62)
Divorced3.3%(93)
Women 15+
Never married18%(545)
Married64.7%(1,959)
Widowed10.7%(324)
Divorced6.6%(200)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
1.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2013
from 2.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
63.8%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 64.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
25.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 25.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
24.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 23.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
5.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2020
from 5.7% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 0.9% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
83.8%
−1.7 ptssince 2020
from 85.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
28.4%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 27.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)3.6%(7)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)11.3%(22)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era52.1%(101)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War18.6%(36)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 194 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Atherton, California?

Atherton, California has about 7,194 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Atherton, California?

The typical household in Atherton, California earns $200,000 or more a year. The Census Bureau does not publish medians above that cap, so the exact figure is not known.

Is Atherton, California expensive?

In Atherton, California, the median home is worth $1,000,000 or more, and the typical rent is $2,000 or more a month.

How educated are people in Atherton, California?

About 76.2% 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 1.7% of people in Atherton, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Atherton, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Atherton, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 31 residents, a change of about 0 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 →