Palo Alto, CA Demographics

What is the population of Palo Alto?

There are 67,231 residents in Palo Alto, with a median age of 42. Of this, 48.49% are males and 51.51% are females. US-born citizens make up 60.7% of the resident pool in Palo Alto, while non-US-born citizens account for 23.67%. Additionally, 15.63% of the population is represented by non-citizens. A total of 56,595 people in Palo Alto currently live in the same house as they did last year.
Y-o-Y Change
Total Population 67,231 -1.0%
Male Population 32,599 -0.6%
Female Population 34,632 -1.4%
Male Population 48.49%
Female Population 51.51%
Y-o-Y Change
Median Age 42 -0.7%
Citizen U.S. Born 40,806 -4.2%
Citizen not U.S. Born 15,915 1.9%
Not Citizen 10,510 8.7%
Citizen U.S. Born 60.7%
Citizen not U.S. Born 23.67%
Not Citizen 15.63%
Y-o-Y Change
Moved from Abroad 1,483 -5.5%
Moved from Same County 5,017 0.2%
Moved from Same State 1,905 -7.3%
Moved from Different State 1,558 -4.2%
Same House as Last Year 56,595 -0.7%
Moved from Abroad 2.23%
Moved from Same County 7.54%
Moved from Same State 2.86%
Moved from Different State 2.34%
Same House as Last Year 85.03%

What are the employment statistics in Palo Alto?

White-collar workers make up 95.7% of the working population in Palo Alto, while blue-collar employees account for 4.3%. There are also 7,014 entrepreneurs in Palo Alto (10.67% of the workforce); 43,234 workers employed in private companies (65.78%); and 5,224 people working in governmental institutions (7.95%).
Y-o-Y Change
White Collar 62,906 95.0%
Blue Collar 2,824 102.4%
White Collar 95.7%
Blue Collar 4.3%
Y-o-Y Change
Self Employees 7,014 86.4%
Private Companies 43,234 99.0%
Governmental Workers 5,224 99.2%
Not for Profit Companies 10,258 84.9%
Self Employees 10.67%
Private Companies 65.78%
Governmental Workers 7.95%
Not for Profit Companies 15.61%

How many households are there in Palo Alto?

There are a total of 26,054 households in Palo Alto, each made up of around 2 members. Family establishments represent 68.07% of these Palo Alto households, while non-family units account for the remaining 31.93%. Additionally, 33.33% of households have children and 66.67% of households are without children.
Y-o-Y Change
Total households 26,054 -0.0%
Average People per Household 2 -22.5%
Family Households 17,736 1.2%
Non-Family Households 8,318 -2.7%
Family Households 68.07%
Non-Family Households 31.93%
Y-o-Y Change
Households with Children 8,685 0.8%
Households without Children 17,369 -0.5%
Households with Children 33.33%
Households without Children 66.67%

What are the median and average incomes in Palo Alto?

The average annual household income in Palo Alto is $308,837, while the median household income sits at $220,408 per year. Residents aged 25 to 44 earn $250,001, while those between 45 and 64 years old have a median wage of $250,001. In contrast, people younger than 25 and those older than 65 earn less, at $110,375 and $130,069, respectively.
Y-o-Y Change
Average Household Income $308,837 2.5%
Median Household Income $220,408 2.9%
People below Poverty Level 3,604 14.1%
People above Poverty Level 62,421 -1.8%

How many homeowners and renters are there in Palo Alto?

There are 29,104 housing units in Palo Alto, and the median year in which these properties were built is 1963. Of the 26,054 occupied housing units in Palo Alto, 54.18% are owner-occupied, while 45.82% have renters living in them. Meanwhile, properties bought with mortgages account for 58.21% of the units, and the median value of a home with a mortgage is $2,000,001. In general, housing costs reach $3,499 per month in Palo Alto.
Y-o-Y Change
Housing Units 29,104 0.1%
Median Year Built 1963 0.1%
Built in 1939 or Earlier 3,763 -2.1%
Built between 1940 and 1949 2,272 -1.9%
Built between 1950 and 1959 7,462 -4.4%
Built between 1960 and 1969 3,762 11.8%
Built between 1970 and 1979 3,287 -1.9%
Built between 1980 and 1989 2,142 13.8%
Built between 1990 and 1999 1,659 1.3%
Built between 2000 and 2009 2,901 -9.3%
Built between 2010 and 2019 1,744 8.3%
Built in 2020 or Later 112 83.6%
Y-o-Y Change
Occupied Housing Units 26,054 -0.0%
Owner Occupied 14,115 -3.2%
Renter Occupied 11,939 4.0%
Owner Occupied 54.18%
Renter Occupied 45.82%
Y-o-Y Change
With Mortgage 8,217 -3.4%
Without Mortgage 5,898 -3.0%
Median Value with Mortgage $2,000,001 0.0%
Median Value without Mortgage $2,000,001 0.0%
Median Housing Costs per Month $3,499 6.7%
With Mortgage 58.21%
Without Mortgage 41.79%

What is the level of education in Palo Alto?

Approximately 8.6% of the population in Palo Alto holds a high school degree (that's 4,491 residents), while 8.4% have attained a college certificate (4,386 locals) and 27.52% have a bachelor's degree (14,368 people).
Y-o-Y Change
No High School 809 -18.7%
Some High School 4,491 7.1%
Some College 4,386 -9.5%
Associate Degree 1,455 -10.8%
Bachelor's Degree 14,368 -4.0%
Graduate Degree 26,691 0.7%
No High School 1.55%
Some High School 8.6%
Some College 8.4%
Associate Degree 2.79%
Bachelor's Degree 27.52%
Graduate Degree 51.13%

What is the marital status of Palo Alto residents?

A total of 15,497 people in Palo Alto have never been married (which represents 27.94% of the total population), while 32,976 of them are wedded (59.46%). Separated and divorced residents are in smaller numbers, at 525 (0.95%) and 3,784 (6.82%), respectively.
Y-o-Y Change
Never Married 15,497 -7.9%
Married 32,976 1.8%
Separated 525 1.7%
Widowed 3,204 7.5%
Divorced 3,784 -2.4%
Never Married 27.94%
Married 59.46%
Separated 0.95%
Widowed 5.78%
Divorced 6.82%

What are the most common means of transportation in Palo Alto?

The top three means of transportation people in Palo Alto use to get to work are: car, bicycle and walking. A total of 16,434 residents commute by car, 2,228 prefer going to work by bicycle and 1,406 by walking
Y-o-Y Change
Car 16,434 -8.1%
Bus or TrolleyBus 389 -19.5%
Subway or Elevated 70 N/A
Railroad 541 -23.8%
Bicycle 2,228 -11.5%
Motorcycle 3 -84.2%
TaxiCab 79 0.0%
Walk 1,406 2.2%

What is the median and average household income in Palo Alto by zipcode?

ZipCode Population Number of Households Median Income Average Income
94301 17,126 7,080 $235,529 $342,198
94303 47,123 14,485 $148,031 $223,571
94304 4,731 2,117 $162,569 $252,961
94306 27,527 10,794 $186,479 $276,816

Methodology & Disclaimers

Demographic data shown in this section was gathered from the latest U.S. Census Bureau release, the 2023 American Community Survey. The information is updated yearly, as soon as new data is made available by the US Census Bureau.
No representation, guarantee or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information modified or aggregated for specific neighborhoods and/or zip codes.