East Palo Alto, California Income Statistics
East Palo Alto Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
East Palo Alto Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | East Palo Alto | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $107,317 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,780 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 8.3% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 14.0% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 24.6% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in East Palo Alto is about 8% higher than in California. Income has been growing faster in East Palo Alto (8.3%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 14% of adults in East Palo Alto earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in East Palo Alto, California grew by 119.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $107,317 in 2024. That's an average of about 8.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in East Palo Alto
| Metric | East Palo Alto | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.571 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,592 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $55,883 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 9.3% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In East Palo Alto, it is 0.571, about the same as California's 0.572, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 10% more than women's income in East Palo Alto, California. Over a 35-year career, a 10% wage gap accumulates to roughly $199,815 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in East Palo Alto, California has narrowed from about -21% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2013, and in 2010 women out-earned men by 22%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,417 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in East Palo Alto widened by 30.6 points while California's narrowed by 4.3 points.
Employment
| Metric | East Palo Alto | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.6% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 21 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 754 people are unemployed in East Palo Alto, California.
The average commute time in East Palo Alto is 21 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in East Palo Alto, California has fallen from 11.9% to 5.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 13.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.9% in 2020.
East Palo Alto, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How East Palo Alto, CA compares with the 2 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Palo Alto, CA | 24,524 | $107,317 #3/3 | 8.3%/yr #1/3 | 5.2% #3/3 | 0.571 #3/3 |
| Menlo Park, CA | 35,824 | $200,700 | 7.3%/yr | 4.7% | 0.514 |
| Palo Alto, CA | 68,352 | $203,799 | 5.1%/yr | 4.0% | 0.482 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, East Palo Alto, California has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with California, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in East Palo Alto, California.
How Wealthy Is East Palo Alto, California?
East Palo Alto has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $107,317, about 8% higher than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in East Palo Alto, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in East Palo Alto, California rose 119%, from $48,948 to $107,317. Over the same years, income here outpaced California as a whole: +119% against +64%.
What was the median household income in East Palo Alto in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in East Palo Alto, California was $102,358, down 4% from $106,089 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in East Palo Alto in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in East Palo Alto, California was $92,061. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $107,317.
How strong is the job market in East Palo Alto, California?
Unemployment in East Palo Alto, California is only 5.2%, well below the California rate of 6.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in East Palo Alto, California?
The Gini coefficient in East Palo Alto is 0.571. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in East Palo Alto, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in East Palo Alto, California has narrowed from about -21% to 9% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 18% in 2013, and in 2010 women out-earned men by 22%. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $12,417 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →