CensusEasy
CITY · 2010 ACS

Palo Alto

California · 64,403 residents · 24.051 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the San Jose metro area
Compare
The short version

Palo Alto is significantly wealthier than the US average, with a median household income of $120,670. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 79% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, well above the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $1,000,001. Poverty is rare here, at 5.7% of residents. Households here earn about 98% more than the California median.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $52,703
Older
median age 41.9
US median: 37.2
More educated
79% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
64,403
+10%since 2000
from 58,598 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,678 / sq mi
+10%since 2000
from 2,436 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
41.9
+4%since 2000
from 40.2 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
55K58K62K66K70K1990201020202024Palo Alto
202467K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$120,670
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,377 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$70,242
+25%since 2000
from $56,257 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
66.9%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 68.2% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
5.7%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.489
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade15.2%
US avg: 10.9%
Other services7.3%
US avg: 7%
Arts, entertainment, food5.8%
US avg: 2.4%
Information5%
US avg: 11.5%
Public administration4%
US avg: 4.9%
Wholesale trade1.7%
US avg: 7.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 3.1%
Finance & insurance0.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Professional, scientific, technical0.6%
US avg: 4.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.1%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
Construction0.1%
US avg: 1.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$1,000,001
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $776,000 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,654
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,349 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
38.0%
−19.2 ptssince 2000
from 57.2% in 2000
44.3% rent
Vacancy rate
5.6%
+0.6 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
26.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 27.2% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
35.3%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
8.3
−3%since 2000
from 8.6 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Palo Alto on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic72.8%(42,682)
Black2%(1,166)
Hispanic / Latino4.6%(2,722)
Asian17.2%(10,056)
Other0%
Diversity Score49.7%(29,122)
2010
White, non-Hispanic60.6%(39,052)
Black1.8%(1,131)
Hispanic / Latino6.2%(3,974)
Asian27%(17,404)
Other3.4%(2,210)
Diversity Score68.1%(43,883)
Diversity Score
68
+37%since 2000
from 50 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
79.3%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
97.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2000
from 96.2% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
48.7%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 43.0% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.8 min
+62%since 2000
from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
67.3%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 68.9% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
6.3%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
4.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
8.6%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 7.9% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
5.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 5.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
6.8%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.3%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
12.2%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
77.6%
−10.1 ptssince 2009
from 87.7% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.8% in 2009
Female
50.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.2% in 2009
Foreign born
31.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
6.6%
−42.7 ptssince 2009
from 49.3% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Palo Alto

Alpharetta
Pop 66,921
Johns Creek
Pop 80,401
Weston
Pop 69,588
Parkland
Pop 39,186
Places similar to Palo Alto
Head to head

Compare Palo Alto to nearby cities

PALO ALTO VS
Los Altos Hills
Income$250,001+107%
Home value$2,000,001+100%
Population8,419−88%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALO ALTO VS
Stanford
Income$75,208−38%
Home value$2,000,001+100%
Population18,662−72%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALO ALTO VS
Los Altos
Income$250,001+107%
Home value$2,000,001+100%
Population30,965−54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALO ALTO VS
Mountain View
Income$189,917+57%
Home value$1,927,000+93%
Population85,438+26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Palo Alto, California?

Palo Alto, California has about 64,403 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Palo Alto, California?

The typical household in Palo Alto, California earns about $120,670 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Palo Alto, California expensive?

In Palo Alto, California, the median home is worth about $1,000,001, and the typical rent is about $1,654 a month.

How educated are people in Palo Alto, California?

About 79.3% of adults age 25 and over in Palo Alto, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Palo Alto, California?

About 5.7% of people in Palo Alto, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Palo Alto, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Palo Alto, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 8,503 residents, a change of about 15 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

Up the hierarchy
California
Rankings
Highest income citiesFastest growing citiesMost educated cities
Compare
Compare Palo Alto with another place

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

How we source and harmonize this data →