How long is the commute from East Palo Alto, CA?

Name: Commute and cars in East Palo Alto, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Workers who live in East Palo Alto, CA take an average of 23.7 minutes to get to work (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

64.2% of workers drive alone to work.

1.9% take public transportation.

1.7% of workers walk to work.

14.5% work from home.

6.1% of households have no vehicle.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Average commute: 23.7 minutes (±1.2)
Public transportation: 1.9%
Work from home: 14.5%
Households without a car: 6.1%

How people in East Palo Alto get to work

Workers 16 and over by means of transportation to work, 2020–2024
Means of transportation	East Palo Alto	San Mateo County	California	United States
Drove alone	64.2% (±5.0 points)	56.7%	65.7%	68.8%
Carpooled	12.3% (±3.0 points)	8.7%	9.5%	8.5%
Public transportation	1.9% (±0.9 points)	5.1%	2.9%	3.2%
Walked	1.7% (±1.0 points)	2.3%	2.4%	2.4%
Other means (bicycle, taxi, motorcycle)	5.5% (±2.0 points)	3.0%	2.4%	2.0%
Worked from home	14.5% (±2.9 points)	24.3%	17.2%	15.1%

In East Palo Alto, the average commute is lower than in San Mateo County (26.4 minutes).

It is also lower than in California (28.7 minutes).

It is lower than the national figure (26.4 minutes).

In East Palo Alto, the share commuting by public transportation is lower than in San Mateo County (5.1%).

It is also lower than in California (2.9%).

It is lower than the national figure (3.2%).

In San Mateo County, East Palo Alto ranks 25 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest average commute.

Statewide, it ranks 789 of 1,076.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Cars per household in East Palo Alto

Occupied housing units by vehicles available, 2020–2024
Vehicles available	East Palo Alto	San Mateo County	California	United States
No vehicle	6.1% (±2.0 points)	5.8%	7.1%	8.4%
1 vehicle	27.4% (±4.1 points)	31.2%	30.7%	33.1%
2 vehicles	33.1% (±4.7 points)	38.2%	36.3%	36.6%
3 or more vehicles	33.5% (±3.6 points)	24.8%	25.8%	21.9%

In East Palo Alto, the share of households without a vehicle is not measurably different from San Mateo County (5.8%).

It is not measurably different from California (7.1%).

It is lower than the national figure (8.4%).

Working from home and internet access in East Palo Alto

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	East Palo Alto	San Mateo County	California	United States
Workers working from home	14.5% (±2.9 points)	24.3% (±0.6 points)	17.2% (±0.1 points)	15.1%
Households with a computer	96.5% (±1.9 points)	97.7% (±0.3 points)	96.9% (±0.1 points)	95.5%
Households with broadband internet	92.6% (±2.4 points)	95.7% (±0.4 points)	93.5% (±0.1 points)	91.0%

In East Palo Alto, the share of households with a broadband subscription is lower than in San Mateo County (95.7%).

It is not measurably different from California (93.5%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (91.0%).

Average commute in places near East Palo Alto

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with East Palo Alto
Place	Distance	Average commute	Compared with this place
East Palo Alto	—	23.7 minutes (±1.2)	—
Menlo Park	1.2 mi	23.9 minutes (±1.5)	Not measurably different
Stanford	3.4 mi	14.6 minutes (±1.0)	Lower
Atherton	3.8 mi	23.2 minutes (±3.2)	Not measurably different
North Fair Oaks	3.9 mi	22.1 minutes (±1.7)	Not measurably different
West Menlo Park	4.5 mi	20.7 minutes (±3.0)	Not measurably different
Palo Alto	5.0 mi	21.4 minutes (±0.7)	Lower
Redwood City	5.5 mi	24.3 minutes (±0.8)	Not measurably different
Mountain View	5.5 mi	23.3 minutes (±0.7)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Stanford, CA (14.6 minutes), Palo Alto, CA (21.4 minutes).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Average commute across San Mateo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Average commute
19	South San Francisco	25.6 minutes (±0.9)
20	San Carlos	24.6 minutes (±1.3)
21 (tie)	Redwood City	24.3 minutes (±0.8)
21 (tie)	Broadmoor	24.3 minutes (±2.2)
23	Highlands	24.0 minutes (±2.8)
24	Menlo Park	23.9 minutes (±1.5)
25 (tie)	East Palo Alto	23.7 minutes (±1.2)
25 (tie)	San Bruno	23.7 minutes (±1.0)
27	Atherton	23.2 minutes (±3.2)
28	North Fair Oaks	22.1 minutes (±1.7)
29 (tie)	Ladera	20.7 minutes (±6.9)
29 (tie)	West Menlo Park	20.7 minutes (±3.0)
31	Portola Valley	19.3 minutes (±2.5)

Showing 13 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in East Palo Alto

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near East Palo Alto, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for East Palo Alto beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near East Palo Alto, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about East Palo Alto

How long is the average commute in East Palo Alto?

Workers who live in East Palo Alto, CA take an average of 23.7 minutes each way (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Can you live in East Palo Alto without a car?

6.1% of households in East Palo Alto have no vehicle, and 1.9% of workers commute by public transportation.

How many people work from home in East Palo Alto?

14.5% (±2.9 points) of workers who live in East Palo Alto worked from home, and 92.6% of households have a broadband subscription.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for East Palo Alto city, California (place:20956, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0018E, DP03_0018M, DP03_0025E, DP03_0025M, DP03_0019PE, DP03_0019PM, DP03_0020PE, DP03_0020PM, DP03_0021PE, DP03_0021PM, DP03_0022PE, DP03_0022PM, DP03_0023PE, DP03_0023PM, DP03_0024PE, DP03_0024PM, DP04_0058PE, DP04_0058PM, DP04_0059PE, DP04_0059PM, DP04_0060PE, DP04_0060PM, DP04_0061PE, DP04_0061PM, DP02_0153PE, DP02_0153PM, DP02_0154PE, DP02_0154PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.