What percentage of people rent in Menlo Park, CA?

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

45.8% (±3.0 points) of the occupied homes in Menlo Park, CA are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 5,420 renting households against 6,417 that own their home.

In Menlo Park, the share of households that rent went from 42.1% in 2015–2019 to 45.8% in 2020–2024 (+3.7 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 45.8% (±3.0 points)
Renting households: 5,420 (±473)
Median renter income: $141,568 (±$10,254)

Who rents and who owns in Menlo Park

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Menlo Park	San Mateo County	California	United States
Renter-occupied share	45.8% (±3.0 points)	41.5% (±0.7 points)	44.1% (±0.2 points)	34.8%
Renting households	5,420 (±473)	109,812 (±1,879)	5,980,523 (±22,985)	45,017,354
Owning households	6,417 (±351)	154,607 (±1,889)	7,567,568 (±37,334)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.2 (±0.2)	2.6 (±0.0)	2.7 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	3.1 (±0.1)	2.9 (±0.0)	3.0 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$141,568 (±$10,254)	$119,424 (±$3,650)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$250,000 or more	$197,950 (±$4,038)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009

In Menlo Park, the renter share is higher than in San Mateo County (41.5%).

It is not measurably different from California (44.1%).

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

In San Mateo County, Menlo Park ranks 8 of 31 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 254 of 1,076.

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

How renting in Menlo Park 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	42.1% (±2.5 points)	45.8% (±3.0 points)	+3.7 percentage points	Not a measurable change
Median gross rent	$2,341 (±$92)	$3,239 (±$156)	+38.4%	Up after inflation
Median household income	$160,784 (±$9,943)	$210,025 (±$20,341)	+30.6%	No measurable change 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 Menlo Park

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Menlo Park
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Menlo Park	—	45.8% (±3.0 points)	—
East Palo Alto	1.2 mi	50.9% (±4.3 points)	Not measurably different
North Fair Oaks	3.1 mi	52.3% (±5.2 points)	Higher
Atherton	3.3 mi	12.4% (±6.1 points)	Lower
Stanford	3.8 mi	73.2% (±5.2 points)	Higher
Redwood City	4.4 mi	51.4% (±1.8 points)	Higher
West Menlo Park	4.4 mi	21.7% (±7.6 points)	Lower
Palo Alto	5.8 mi	45.4% (±2.2 points)	Not measurably different
Ladera	6.2 mi	3.8% (±5.9 points)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Atherton, CA (12.4%), West Menlo Park, CA (21.7%), Ladera, CA (3.8%).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: North Fair Oaks, CA (52.3%), Stanford, CA (73.2%), Redwood City, CA (51.4%).

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
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)
11	South San Francisco	41.0% (±2.2 points)
12	Daly City	39.8% (±2.2 points)
13	Millbrae	39.2% (±3.0 points)
14	San Bruno	37.9% (±2.7 points)

Showing 13 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 Menlo Park

How many renters are there in Menlo Park?

Menlo Park has an estimated 5,420 (±473) renting households, 45.8% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Menlo Park?

In Menlo Park, the share of households that rent went from 42.1% in 2015–2019 to 45.8% in 2020–2024 (+3.7 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How big are renting households in Menlo Park?

A renting household in Menlo Park has 2.2 people on average, against 3.1 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Menlo Park?

The median renting household in Menlo Park, CA has an income of $141,568 (±$10,254) a year, against $250,000 or more 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 Menlo Park city, California (place:46870, 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.