Menlo Park, CA

Housing, demographics, economy, schools, and public safety indicators for Menlo Park, California. Most recent data from Feb 1.

Key Insight

Menlo Park is experiencing a structural population decline that is decoupling from its still-appreciating housing market, creating a hollowing-out dynamic where rising property values are actively shrinking the community.

Generated by Claude on Apr 15, 2026
Exclude COVID

Housing

Median Home Sale Price

Zillow Home Value Index for middle-tier homes.

▲ +4.8% YoY

$2.8M

Trend YoY growth is +4.8%, slowing by 12 bps/year over the last 25Y. Deviations have remained below trend for 8 consecutive periods. Latest: +4.5%, 30 bps below trend, a 0.1σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 1.4 pp due to an tough comparison base from Feb '25. At current levels, YoY would fall to +3.8% by May '26 as comparisons tighten.

Level

YoY %

y = 7.7% 12 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Median Rent

Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.

▲ +4.3% YoY

3.9kUSD/mo

Trend YoY growth is +4.3%, accelerating by 45 bps/year over the last 9Y. Latest: +4.0%, 36 bps below trend, a 0.1σ deviation. At current levels, YoY would fall to +1.1% by May '26 as comparisons tighten.

Level

YoY %

y = 0.4% + 45 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Demographics

Population

Total population estimate, ACS 5-year survey.

▼ -1.1% YoY

32.8kpeople

Trend YoY growth is -1.1%, slowing by 24 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: -1.6%, 55 bps below trend, a 0.4σ deviation.

Level

YoY %

y = 1.8% 24 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Median Household Income

Median income of all households in the past 12 months.

▲ +8.4% YoY

$206.6k

Trend YoY growth is +8.4%, accelerating by 54 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +4.2%, 4.3 pp below trend, a 1.6σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 2.3 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.

Level

YoY %

y = 1.9% + 54 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Educational Attainment

Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

▲ +0.4% YoY

72.7%

Trend YoY growth is +0.4%, accelerating by 2.0 pp/year over the last 10Y. Deviations have remained below trend for 4 consecutive periods. Latest: +0.2%, 22 bps below trend, a 0.3σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 50 bps due to an easy comparison base from 2022.

Level

YoY Change (bps)

y = 0.2% + 2 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Median Age

Median age of the total population.

▲ +0.6% YoY

38.50years

Trend YoY growth is +0.6%, accelerating by 12 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +0.0%, 62 bps below trend, a 0.5σ deviation.

Level

YoY %

y = −0.8% + 12 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Single-Parent Households

Families with a single parent and children under 18, as a share of all families.

Menlo Park (Census ACS B11003)

▼ -0.7% YoY

6.2%

Trend YoY growth is -0.7%, slowing by 8.5 pp/year over the last 10Y. Latest: -0.8%, 11 bps below trend, a 0.3σ deviation.

Level

YoY Change (bps)

y = 0.2% 8 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Economy

Unemployment Rate

Share of the labor force unemployed and seeking work.

San Mateo County (FRED LAUS)

▼ -0.2% YoY

3.5%

Trend YoY growth is -0.2%, slowing by 1.9 pp/year over the last 20Y. Latest: -0.3%, 9 bps below trend, a 0.0σ deviation.

Level

YoY Change (bps)

y = 0.2% 2 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Median Earnings

Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers 16+.

▲ +7.1% YoY

$97.1k

Trend YoY growth is +7.1%, accelerating by 40 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +4.6%, 2.5 pp below trend, a 0.5σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 5.2 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.

Level

YoY %

y = 2.2% + 40 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Public Safety

Violent Crime Rate

Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, assault) per 100k residents.

Menlo Park PD (FBI CDE)

▲ +13.7% YoY

182.4per 100k

Trend YoY growth is +13.7%, accelerating by 1.2 pp/year over the last 19Y. Deviations have remained below trend for 4 consecutive periods. Latest: -20.2%, 33.9 pp below trend, a 1.2σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 23.3 pp due to an easy comparison base from 2024.

Level

YoY %

y = −8.7% + 1.2 pp/yr · t

Deviation from trend

Property Crime Rate

Property crimes (burglary, theft, vehicle theft) per 100k residents.

Menlo Park PD (FBI CDE)

▼ -2.5% YoY

1.5kper 100k

Trend YoY growth is -2.5%, slowing by 8 bps/year over the last 19Y. Latest: -14.6%, 12.0 pp below trend, a 1.2σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 5.2 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2024.

Level

YoY %

y = −1.0% 8 bps/yr · t

Deviation from trend