What is the median household income in Palo Alto, CA?

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

The median household income in Palo Alto, CA is $231,101 (±$9,859) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $3,484 a month would take about $139,400 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

In Palo Alto, the median household income went from $158,271 in 2015–2019 to $231,101 in 2020–2024 (+46.0%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $231,101 (±$9,859)
Median renter income: $157,759 (±$18,256)
Income to afford median rent: about $139,400

Income in Palo Alto against Santa Clara County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Palo Alto	Santa Clara County	California	United States
Median household income	$231,101 (±$9,859)	$164,281 (±$1,955)	$99,122 (±$310)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$157,759 (±$18,256)	$122,974 (±$2,206)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$250,000 or more	$208,519 (±$2,856)	$127,456 (±$424)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$3,484 (±$157)	$2,857 (±$19)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Palo Alto, median household income is higher than in Santa Clara County ($164,281).

It is also higher than in California ($99,122).

It is higher than the national figure ($80,734).

In Santa Clara County, Palo Alto ranks 8 of 23 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median household income.

Statewide, it ranks 48 of 1,069.

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

How much you need to earn to rent in Palo Alto

Many landlords and housing programs use 30% of gross income as the most a household should spend on rent.

At that guideline, the median gross rent of $3,484 a month ($41,808 a year) needs an income of about $139,400 a year.

The median renting household in Palo Alto earns $157,759 a year.

This is arithmetic on the published medians, not a rule any landlord must follow; screening criteria vary and some places limit how income may be weighed.

Income against housing costs since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median household income	$158,271 (±$6,623)	$231,101 (±$9,859)	+46.0%	Up after inflation
Median gross rent	$2,569 (±$83)	$3,484 (±$157)	+35.6%	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.

Median household income in places near Palo Alto

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Palo Alto
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
Palo Alto	—	$231,101 (±$9,859)	—
Los Altos Hills	2.1 mi	$250,000 or more	—
Stanford	2.5 mi	$75,208 (±$20,329)	Lower
Ladera	3.1 mi	$235,750 (±$130,104)	Not measurably different
Los Altos	3.2 mi	$250,000 or more	—
Mountain View	3.5 mi	$189,917 (±$10,319)	Lower
Loyola	4.0 mi	$250,000 or more	—
West Menlo Park	4.2 mi	$250,000 or more	—
East Palo Alto	5.0 mi	$113,493 (±$15,823)	Lower

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Stanford, CA ($75,208), Mountain View, CA ($189,917), East Palo Alto, CA ($113,493).

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

Median household income across Santa Clara County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median household income
1 (tie)	Los Altos Hills	$250,000 or more
1 (tie)	Monte Sereno	$250,000 or more
1 (tie)	Saratoga	$250,000 or more
1 (tie)	Loyola	$250,000 or more
6	Lexington Hills	$248,750 (±$23,669)
7	Cupertino	$234,707 (±$12,596)
8	Palo Alto	$231,101 (±$9,859)
9	Los Gatos	$217,554 (±$14,059)
10	East Foothills	$199,375 (±$17,693)
11	Cambrian Park	$192,731 (±$28,429)
12	Mountain View	$189,917 (±$10,319)
13	Sunnyvale	$186,170 (±$5,402)
14	Santa Clara	$178,958 (±$8,034)

Showing 13 of 23 places in Santa Clara 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 Palo Alto

What is the median household income in Palo Alto?

The median household income in Palo Alto is $231,101 (±$9,859) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in Palo Alto?

About $139,400 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $3,484 a month.

Have incomes in Palo Alto kept up with inflation?

In Palo Alto, the median household income went from $158,271 in 2015–2019 to $231,101 in 2020–2024 (+46.0%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it rose faster than prices: a measurable increase after inflation.

What do renters earn in Palo Alto?

The median renting household in Palo Alto, CA earns $157,759 (±$18,256) a year.

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 Palo Alto city, California (place:55282, in state:06).

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

The 2015–2019 figures are B19013_001E, B19013_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M

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.