How many renters in East Palo Alto, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

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

58.0% (±7.4 points) of renting households in East Palo Alto, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

49.9% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 34.9% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 58.0% (±7.4 points)
Paying 35% or more: 49.9% (±6.3 points)
Median share of income: 34.9% (±4.5 points)

Rent as a share of income in East Palo Alto

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	East Palo Alto	San Mateo County	California	United States
Less than 15%	10.8% (±4.8 points)	13.8%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.6% (±3.1 points)	13.7%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	12.9% (±5.2 points)	13.0%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.8% (±4.3 points)	11.1%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.1% (±3.8 points)	8.1%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	49.9% (±6.3 points)	40.3%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

East Palo Alto against San Mateo County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	East Palo Alto	San Mateo County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	58.0% (±7.4 points)	48.4% (±1.5 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	49.9% (±6.3 points)	40.3% (±1.3 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	34.9% (±4.5 points)	29.3% (±0.6 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$77,559 (±$6,092)	$119,424 (±$3,650)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,244 (±$166)	$2,922 (±$40)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In East Palo Alto, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in San Mateo County (48.4%).

It is not measurably different from California (55.3%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In San Mateo County, East Palo Alto ranks 6 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 424 of 1,067.

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near East Palo Alto

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with East Palo Alto
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
East Palo Alto	—	58.0% (±7.4 points)	—
Menlo Park	1.2 mi	46.3% (±6.7 points)	Lower
Stanford	3.4 mi	71.8% (±9.0 points)	Higher
Atherton	3.8 mi	21.7% (±20.4 points)	Lower
North Fair Oaks	3.9 mi	59.3% (±9.8 points)	Not measurably different
West Menlo Park	4.5 mi	52.0% (±29.3 points)	Not measurably different
Palo Alto	5.0 mi	44.3% (±4.3 points)	Lower
Redwood City	5.5 mi	46.7% (±2.9 points)	Lower
Mountain View	5.5 mi	38.4% (±3.4 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Menlo Park, CA (46.3%), Atherton, CA (21.7%), Palo Alto, CA (44.3%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Stanford, CA (71.8%).

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

Renters paying 30% or more of income across San Mateo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Ladera	100.0% (±107.2 points)
2	Portola Valley	87.1% (±23.0 points)
3	Woodside	68.4% (±21.2 points)
4	La Honda	66.9% (±46.6 points)
5	North Fair Oaks	59.3% (±9.8 points)
6	East Palo Alto	58.0% (±7.4 points)
7	Daly City	57.7% (±4.9 points)
8	El Granada	55.7% (±34.2 points)
9	San Bruno	52.5% (±7.0 points)
10	West Menlo Park	52.0% (±29.3 points)
11	South San Francisco	51.7% (±5.2 points)
12	Pacifica	51.4% (±6.5 points)

Showing 12 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.

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Questions about East Palo Alto

Are renters in East Palo Alto rent-burdened?

58.0% of renting households in East Palo Alto pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in East Palo Alto spend on rent?

The median renting household in East Palo Alto, CA spends 34.9% (±4.5 points) of its household income on gross rent.

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) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) 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.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

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.