United States › California › East Palo Alto CITY
East Palo Alto California · 28,872 residents (2025 est.) · 2.53 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
East Palo Alto is home to 29,069 people in California. The typical home is worth $1,102,600, having more than tripled since 2000. 44% of residents were born outside the United States. Few US cities rank higher on income. Density works out to 11,499 people per square mile. Owners hold 49% of the housing stock.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 36.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 104%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 29,506 in 2000
28,872 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
11,499 / sq mi
−11%since 2009
from 12,967 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 25.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
23K 25K 28K 31K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 East Palo Alto Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $113,493
+38%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,006 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,774 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 28.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 16.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.437 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Arts, entertainment, food 3.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.3%
Public administration 2.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 1.4%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$1,102,600
+104%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $296,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$2,244
+44%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $854 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 43.5% in 2000
50.9% rent
from 8.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 3.59 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 57.7% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 59.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 12.0 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 6.5%(1,930)
Hispanic / Latino 58.8%(17,346)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 12.6%(3,667)
Hispanic / Latino 58.8%(17,093)
from 79 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 6 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 48.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 15.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 70.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 11.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 4.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 3.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 72.4% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 20.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 40.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 7.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 24.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 72.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 96.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 92.4% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 26.7% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 58.9% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 50.8%(5,849)
Women 15+
Never married 41.4%(5,349)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 24.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 51.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 10.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 8.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 32.2% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 0.7% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 60.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 38.5% 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) 32.2%(134)
Gulf War (1990s) 10.6%(44)
Share of the 416 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.
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Drill deeper
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EAST PALO ALTO VS
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Frequently asked
How many people live in East Palo Alto, California? East Palo Alto, California has about 29,069 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in East Palo Alto, California? The typical household in East Palo Alto, California earns about $113,493 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is East Palo Alto, California expensive? In East Palo Alto, California, the median home is worth about $1,102,600, and the typical rent is about $2,244 a month.
How educated are people in East Palo Alto, California? About 26.8% of adults age 25 and over in East Palo Alto, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in East Palo Alto, California? About 10.3% of people in East Palo Alto, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has East Palo Alto, California grown since 1990? Yes, East Palo Alto, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 5,618 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
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