How many renters in Palo Alto, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?
44.3% (±4.3 points) of renting households in Palo Alto, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).
35.0% spend 35% or more.
The median renting household spends 26.6% of its income on rent.
Figures last updated on .
- Paying 30% or more
- 44.3% (±4.3 points)
- Paying 35% or more
- 35.0% (±3.7 points)
- Median share of income
- 26.6% (±2.1 points)
Rent as a share of income in Palo Alto
| Share of income spent on rent | Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 15% | 21.6% (±3.4 points) | 16.9% | 10.4% | 12.6% |
| 15% to 19.9% | 14.2% (±2.3 points) | 14.3% | 11.1% | 12.2% |
| 20% to 24.9% | 11.6% (±2.0 points) | 13.1% | 12.0% | 12.6% |
| 25% to 29.9% | 8.2% (±1.8 points) | 10.7% | 11.2% | 11.5% |
| 30% to 34.9% | 9.3% (±2.1 points) | 8.6% | 9.3% | 9.2% |
| 35% or more | 35.0% (±3.7 points) | 36.4% | 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.
Palo Alto against Santa Clara County, its state and the nation
| Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | California | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paying 30% or more | 44.3% (±4.3 points) | 45.0% (±0.9 points) | 55.3% (±0.2 points) | 51.1% |
| Paying 35% or more | 35.0% (±3.7 points) | 36.4% (±0.8 points) | 46.0% (±0.2 points) | 41.9% |
| Median share of income | 26.6% (±2.1 points) | 27.7% (±0.4 points) | 32.8% (±0.2 points) | 30.6% |
| Median renter household income | $157,759 (±$18,256) | $122,974 (±$2,206) | $71,186 (±$298) | $52,966 |
| Median gross rent | $3,484 (±$157) | $2,857 (±$19) | $2,036 (±$5) | $1,413 |
In Palo Alto, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Santa Clara County (45.0%).
It is also lower than in California (55.3%).
It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).
In Santa Clara County, Palo Alto ranks 13 of 23 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.
Statewide, it ranks 857 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 Palo Alto
| Place | Distance | Renters paying 30% or more of income | Compared with this place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto | — | 44.3% (±4.3 points) | — |
| Los Altos Hills | 2.1 mi | 47.6% (±37.7 points) | Not measurably different |
| Stanford | 2.5 mi | 71.8% (±9.0 points) | Higher |
| Ladera | 3.1 mi | 100.0% (±107.2 points) | Not measurably different |
| Los Altos | 3.2 mi | 39.7% (±8.0 points) | Not measurably different |
| Mountain View | 3.5 mi | 38.4% (±3.4 points) | Lower |
| Loyola | 4.0 mi | 30.6% (±23.4 points) | Not measurably different |
| West Menlo Park | 4.2 mi | 52.0% (±29.3 points) | Not measurably different |
| East Palo Alto | 5.0 mi | 58.0% (±7.4 points) | Higher |
Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Mountain View, CA (38.4%).
Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Stanford, CA (71.8%), East Palo Alto, CA (58.0%).
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 Santa Clara County, place by place
| Rank | Place | Renters paying 30% or more of income |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Alum Rock | 52.2% (±15.0 points) |
| 8 | Saratoga | 51.6% (±11.8 points) |
| 9 (tie) | Campbell | 50.3% (±5.9 points) |
| 9 (tie) | San Jose | 50.3% (±1.3 points) |
| 11 | Lexington Hills | 50.0% (±38.1 points) |
| 12 | Los Altos Hills | 47.6% (±37.7 points) |
| 13 | Palo Alto | 44.3% (±4.3 points) |
| 14 | Los Gatos | 41.8% (±6.4 points) |
| 15 | Los Altos | 39.7% (±8.0 points) |
| 16 | Mountain View | 38.4% (±3.4 points) |
| 17 | Santa Clara | 36.6% (±2.9 points) |
| 18 | Milpitas | 36.0% (±4.7 points) |
| 19 | Sunnyvale | 34.7% (±2.5 points) |
Showing 13 of 23 places in Santa Clara 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 Palo Alto
Are renters in Palo Alto rent-burdened?
44.3% of renting households in 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 Palo Alto spend on rent?
The median renting household in Palo Alto, CA spends 26.6% (±2.1 points) of its household income on gross rent.
Sources
- Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Palo Alto city, California
- Median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (B25071), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Palo Alto city, California
- Median Household Income by Tenure (B25119), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Palo Alto city, California
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 API needs a free 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.
Figures last updated on .
Related
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- California landlord and tenant rules
- Housing across Santa Clara County
- California places ranked by rent burden
- Housing data for every place in California