Palo Alto, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 66,979 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 2580.2 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.28% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.7 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 26,709 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Palo Alto grew by 17.0% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 68,346 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Palo Alto has a the economy index of A+, which means it is exceptionally prosperous.
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $200,000 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.54% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Palo Alto is about 107% higher than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $2,000,000 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $3,298 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 53.2% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Palo Alto is about 50.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $3,298 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Palo Alto spend about 42 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 175 hours, about 7.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 21.0 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 42.1 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 175 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,436 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 33.4% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 26,609 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,458 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Palo Alto is 21 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Palo Alto has a education index of A+, which means it is exceptionally educated.
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 78.2% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.53 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
Palo Alto has a health index of A+, which means it is exceptionally healthy.
| Metric | Palo Alto | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.9 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 8.0% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 6.0% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Palo Alto, California.
What is the population of Palo Alto, California?
The population of Palo Alto, California is 66,979, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Palo Alto, California?
The population density of Palo Alto, California is 2580.2 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Palo Alto, California?
The median household income in Palo Alto, California is $200,000, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Palo Alto, California?
The median home price in Palo Alto, California is $2,000,000, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Palo Alto, California?
The unemployment rate in Palo Alto, California is 3.8%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.