United States › California › Palo Alto CITY · 2020 ACS
Palo Alto California · 68,572 residents · 24.1 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 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Palo Alto is home to 68,572 people in California. That is roughly 121% ahead of the California median. The median household earns $174,003, about 163% above the national median. 83% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 33% nationally. Home values have more than doubled since 2000, reaching $2,000,000+. Median rent is $2,679 a month.
At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.2
US median: 38.8
More educated
83% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 71%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 40.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
55K 58K 62K 66K 70K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Palo Alto Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $174,003
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $90,377 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $56,257 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 68.2% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 4.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Arts, entertainment, food 8.3%
Transportation & warehousing 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical 1.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.1%
Education & health services 0.1%
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$2,000,001
+71%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $776,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$2,679
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $1,349 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 57.2% in 2000
47.3% rent
from 2.47 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 8.4 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 72.8%(42,682)
Hispanic / Latino 4.6%(2,722)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 48.5%(33,243)
Hispanic / Latino 7.4%(5,091)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 8 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 43 more ancestry groups with data from 74.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 96.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 43.0% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 68.9% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 7.0% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 5.1% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 64.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 76.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 30.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 5.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 31.5%(8,526)
Women 15+
Never married 23.8%(6,772)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 5.4% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
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) 8.3%(134)
Gulf War (1990s) 9.5%(153)
Share of the 1,607 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
Places similar to Palo Alto Head to head
Compare Palo Alto to nearby cities PALO ALTO VS
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Income $250,001 +44%
Home value $2,000,001 same
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PALO ALTO VS
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PALO ALTO VS
Los Altos
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PALO ALTO VS
Mountain View
Income $189,917 +9%
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Population 85,438 +26%
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Palo Alto, California? Palo Alto, California has about 68,572 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Palo Alto, California? The typical household in Palo Alto, California earns about $174,003 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 $2,000,001, and the typical rent is about $2,679 a month.
How educated are people in Palo Alto, California? About 82.7% 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 5.5% 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 12,672 residents, a change of about 23 percent over that period.
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