Cost of Living in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto has a population of about 67,237. The median household income is $231,101, median gross rent is $3,484/month, and the median home value is $2,000,001. These figures come from 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates, the latest full-coverage Census baseline for U.S. cities.
How current is this? Census city data is released with a lag because it is survey-based and designed for consistent coverage across small and large places. Use it as an official affordability baseline; current apartment listings and mortgage rates may differ.
Is Palo Alto expensive to live in?
Compared with the national median in this dataset, rent in Palo Alto is 111% above the national median and home values are 434% above the national median. Household income here is 175% above the national median. Monthly rent represents roughly 18% of the median annual household income, a rough affordability signal for renters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Palo Alto?
The median gross rent in Palo Alto, California is $3,484 per month in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
What is the median home price in Palo Alto?
The median owner-occupied home value in Palo Alto is $2,000,001 in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
How much do people earn in Palo Alto?
The median household income in Palo Alto is $231,101 per year in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Local database last refreshed 2026-07-11.