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CITY · INCORPORATED 1923 · 2020 ACS

Atherton

California · 7,188 residents · 5.02 sq mi
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The short version

With 7,188 people, Atherton is a city in California. That is roughly 218% ahead of the California median. Median household income runs $250,000+, well clear of the $66,278 US median. This is an unusually credentialed place: 83% of adults have a four-year degree. The typical home is worth $2,000,000+, having more than doubled since 2000. Renters pay $3,500+ a month at the median.

At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $250,000+, above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 48.4
US median: 38.8
More educated
83% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Top-priced homes
median home value $2,000,000+, the Census reporting cap
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,188
Unchangedsince 2000
from 7,194 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,433 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2000
from 1,434 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
48.4
+7%since 2000
from 45.3 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
5.02 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
7K7K7K7K7K19902000201020202024Atherton
20247K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 52.7%(192)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 94.3%(312)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.9%(493)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 1911.2%(804)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.6%(620)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 346.3%(455)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 446.5%(464)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5413.3%(958)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6414.5%(1,043)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7412.8%(918)
US avg: 10%
75 to 848.4%(603)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over4.5%(326)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$250,000+
from $200,000+ in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$155,254
+38%since 2000
from $112,408 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
86.6%
+4.0 ptssince 2009
from 82.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
2.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 1.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Other services19.4%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration12.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade10.6%
US avg: 10%
Arts, entertainment, food7.7%
US avg: 2%
Information4.8%
US avg: 11.1%
Finance & insurance2.2%
US avg: 5.5%
Wholesale trade2%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical1.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.3%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$2,000,000+
from $1,000,000+ in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$3,500+
from $2,000+ in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
88.5%
−6.3 ptssince 2000
from 94.8% in 2000
11.5% rent
Persons per household
2.96 people
+1%since 2009
from 2.94 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
Afford Score
8.0
+48%since 2009
from 5.4 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.7%(6,022)
Black0.7%(50)
Hispanic / Latino2.8%(200)
Asian9.8%(704)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic65.8%(4,731)
Black1.3%(94)
Hispanic / Latino6.7%(484)
Asian19.5%(1,404)
Other3.1%(225)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican4%(279)
Spaniard2.2%(154)
Peruvian0.3%(18)
Colombian0.2%(12)
Salvadoran0.2%(11)
Cuban0.1%(7)
Guatemalan0.1%(6)
Honduran0.1%(4)
Asian origin
Chinese10.5%(738)
Asian Indian3.2%(227)
Filipino2.7%(192)
Korean1.4%(100)
Japanese0.8%(60)
Vietnamese0.4%(30)
Pakistani0.2%(16)
Thai0.1%(10)
Taiwanese0.1%(8)
Pacific Islander origin
Tongan0.7%(46)
Chamorro0.2%(11)
Samoan0.1%(9)
Fijian0.1%(5)
Ancestry
German12%(850)
English10.9%(771)
Irish8.3%(585)
Italian5.3%(375)
Scottish3.8%(265)
American3.4%(237)
French2.9%(203)
Canadian2.5%(180)
Swiss2.1%(151)
Polish2%(141)
Dutch1.9%(136)
Danish1.9%(132)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Greek1.6%(116)
Lithuanian1.6%(112)
Iranian1.5%(103)
Swedish1.4%(97)
Russian1%(70)
Portuguese0.9%(67)
Belgian0.9%(63)
Scotch-Irish0.9%(61)
Ukrainian0.8%(56)
Norwegian0.8%(55)
Turkish0.7%(51)
British0.7%(47)
Hungarian0.5%(33)
Welsh0.5%(33)
Austrian0.4%(29)
Palestinian0.3%(19)
Czech0.3%(19)
Brazilian0.2%(14)
Finnish0.2%(14)
Egyptian0.2%(11)
Slovak0.1%(8)
Lebanese0.1%(7)
Croatian0.1%(5)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
82.6%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 76.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
98.5%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 96.7% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
52.7%
+12.5 ptssince 2000
from 40.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.3 min
+41%since 2000
from 15.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
58.4%
−19.2 ptssince 2009
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
0.9%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.8% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
51.0%
+2.1 ptssince 2011
from 48.9% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
56.2%
US average: 73.3%
Management & professional
71.5%
+2.7 ptssince 2009
from 68.8% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.7%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Female
50.3%
+1.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Foreign born
20.0%
+6.2 ptssince 2009
from 13.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
0.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2013
from 2.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
98.3%
US average: 91.9%
Same house as last year
86.0%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
0.9%
−1.2 ptssince 2013
from 2.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Employer-based
64.2%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
25.8%
US average: 13.7%
Medicare
23.4%
US average: 17.6%
Medicaid
5.7%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
0.9%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
85.5%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
27.6%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)6.4%(17)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)8.3%(22)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era29.9%(79)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War15.2%(40)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II29.2%(77)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 264 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 7,188 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Atherton, California?

The typical household in Atherton, California earns $250,000 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 $2,000,000 or more, and the typical rent is $3,500 or more a month.

How educated are people in Atherton, California?

About 82.6% 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 2.7% 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 25 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 →