What percentage of people rent in East Palo Alto, CA?

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

50.9% (±4.3 points) of the occupied homes in East Palo Alto, CA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 4,211 renting households against 4,056 that own their home.

In East Palo Alto, the share of households that rent went from 60.2% in 2015–2019 to 50.9% in 2020–2024 (−9.3 percentage points), a measurable decrease.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 50.9% (±4.3 points)
Renting households: 4,211 (±424)
Median renter income: $77,559 (±$6,092)

Who rents and who owns in East Palo Alto

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	East Palo Alto	San Mateo County	California	United States
Renter-occupied share	50.9% (±4.3 points)	41.5% (±0.7 points)	44.1% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	4,211 (±424)	109,812 (±1,879)	5,980,523 (±22,985)	45,017,354
Owning households	4,056 (±409)	154,607 (±1,889)	7,567,568 (±37,334)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	3.4 (±0.2)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.7 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	3.6 (±0.3)	2.9 (±0.0)	3.0 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$77,559 (±$6,092)	$119,424 (±$3,650)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$152,338 (±$22,099)	$197,950 (±$4,038)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009

In East Palo Alto, the renter share is higher than in San Mateo County (41.5%).

It is also higher than in California (44.1%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In San Mateo County, East Palo Alto ranks 4 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 162 of 1,076.

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

How renting in East Palo Alto has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	60.2% (±3.8 points)	50.9% (±4.3 points)	−9.3 percentage points	Measurable decrease
Median gross rent	$1,766 (±$97)	$2,244 (±$166)	+27.1%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$67,087 (±$7,600)	$113,493 (±$15,823)	+69.2%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near East Palo Alto

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with East Palo Alto
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
East Palo Alto	—	50.9% (±4.3 points)	—
Menlo Park	1.2 mi	45.8% (±3.0 points)	Not measurably different
Stanford	3.4 mi	73.2% (±5.2 points)	Higher
Atherton	3.8 mi	12.4% (±6.1 points)	Lower
North Fair Oaks	3.9 mi	52.3% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
West Menlo Park	4.5 mi	21.7% (±7.6 points)	Lower
Palo Alto	5.0 mi	45.4% (±2.2 points)	Lower
Redwood City	5.5 mi	51.4% (±1.8 points)	Not measurably different
Mountain View	5.5 mi	61.4% (±1.7 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Atherton, CA (12.4%), West Menlo Park, CA (21.7%), Palo Alto, CA (45.4%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Stanford, CA (73.2%), Mountain View, CA (61.4%).

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

Households that rent across San Mateo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	North Fair Oaks	52.3% (±5.2 points)
2	Burlingame	51.8% (±3.0 points)
3	Redwood City	51.4% (±1.8 points)
4	East Palo Alto	50.9% (±4.3 points)
5	San Mateo	50.1% (±1.7 points)
6	Foster City	49.2% (±2.7 points)
7	Colma	46.7% (±8.7 points)
8	Menlo Park	45.8% (±3.0 points)
9	Brisbane	45.3% (±12.2 points)
10	Belmont	45.2% (±3.5 points)

Showing 10 of 31 places in San Mateo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about East Palo Alto

How many renters are there in East Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto has an estimated 4,211 (±424) renting households, 50.9% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in East Palo Alto?

In East Palo Alto, the share of households that rent went from 60.2% in 2015–2019 to 50.9% in 2020–2024 (−9.3 percentage points), a measurable decrease.

How big are renting households in East Palo Alto?

A renting household in East Palo Alto has 3.4 people on average, against 3.6 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in East Palo Alto?

The median renting household in East Palo Alto, CA has an income of $77,559 (±$6,092) a year, against $152,338 for households that own their home.

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 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

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.