Palo Alto, CA
Housing, demographics, economy, and public safety data for Palo Alto, California.
Updated Mar 1.
Housing
Zillow Home Value Index for middle-tier homes.
$3.7M
Trend YoY growth is +5.7%, slowing by 3 bps/year over the last 25Y. Deviations have remained below trend for 10 consecutive periods. Latest: +1.9%, 3.8 pp below trend, a 0.51σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 2.4 pp due to an tough comparison base from Mar '25. At current levels, YoY would rise to +4.5% by May '26 as comparisons ease.
Level
YoY %
y = 6.4% − 3 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
4.0kUSD/mo
Trend YoY growth is +3.8%, accelerating by 39 bps/year over the last 10Y. Deviations have remained above trend for 9 consecutive periods. Latest: +5.7%, 1.8 pp above trend, a 0.57σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 61 bps due to an easy comparison base from Mar '25. At current levels, YoY would fall to +3.5% by May '26 as comparisons tighten.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.0% + 39 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Demographics
Total population estimate, ACS 5-year survey.
67.2kpeople
Trend YoY growth is -0.4%, slowing by 16 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: -1.0%, 58 bps below trend, a 0.79σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 80 bps due to an easy comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 1.6% − 16 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Median income of all households in the past 12 months.
$220.4k
Trend YoY growth is +8.7%, accelerating by 65 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +2.9%, 5.8 pp below trend, a 1.7σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 1.9 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.9% + 65 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
82.4%
Trend YoY growth is +0.1%, slowing by 3.5 pp/year over the last 10Y. Latest: +0.2%, 11 bps above trend, a 0.28σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 62 bps due to an easy comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY Change (bps)
y = 0.4% − 4 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Median age of the total population.
42.50years
Trend YoY growth is +0.5%, accelerating by 4 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +0.5%, 1 bps above trend, a 0.01σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 77 bps due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.0% + 4 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Families with a single parent and children under 18, as a share of all families.
Palo Alto (Census ACS B11003)
6.5%
Trend YoY growth is -0.7%, slowing by 11.4 pp/year over the last 10Y. Deviations have remained above trend for 4 consecutive periods. Latest: -0.5%, 16 bps above trend, a 0.24σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 1.3 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY Change (bps)
y = 0.5% − 11 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Economy
No data
Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers 16+.
$128.8k
Trend YoY growth is +8.9%, accelerating by 71 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +8.2%, 68 bps below trend, a 0.31σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 3.1 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.4% + 71 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Public Safety
No data
No data
Key Insight
Palo Alto's housing market is decoupling into a stagnating ownership market and an accelerating rental market, signaling a structural affordability squeeze that is pushing demand from buying to renting.
Palo Alto, CA
Housing, demographics, economy, and public safety data for Palo Alto, California.
Updated Mar 1.
Housing
Zillow Home Value Index for middle-tier homes.
$3.7M
Trend YoY growth is +5.7%, slowing by 3 bps/year over the last 25Y. Deviations have remained below trend for 10 consecutive periods. Latest: +1.9%, 3.8 pp below trend, a 0.51σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 2.4 pp due to an tough comparison base from Mar '25. At current levels, YoY would rise to +4.5% by May '26 as comparisons ease.
Level
YoY %
y = 6.4% − 3 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Zillow Observed Rent Index for all home types.
4.0kUSD/mo
Trend YoY growth is +3.8%, accelerating by 39 bps/year over the last 10Y. Deviations have remained above trend for 9 consecutive periods. Latest: +5.7%, 1.8 pp above trend, a 0.57σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 61 bps due to an easy comparison base from Mar '25. At current levels, YoY would fall to +3.5% by May '26 as comparisons tighten.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.0% + 39 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Demographics
Total population estimate, ACS 5-year survey.
67.2kpeople
Trend YoY growth is -0.4%, slowing by 16 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: -1.0%, 58 bps below trend, a 0.79σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 80 bps due to an easy comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 1.6% − 16 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Median income of all households in the past 12 months.
$220.4k
Trend YoY growth is +8.7%, accelerating by 65 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +2.9%, 5.8 pp below trend, a 1.7σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 1.9 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.9% + 65 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
82.4%
Trend YoY growth is +0.1%, slowing by 3.5 pp/year over the last 10Y. Latest: +0.2%, 11 bps above trend, a 0.28σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is boosted by 62 bps due to an easy comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY Change (bps)
y = 0.4% − 4 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Median age of the total population.
42.50years
Trend YoY growth is +0.5%, accelerating by 4 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +0.5%, 1 bps above trend, a 0.01σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 77 bps due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.0% + 4 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Families with a single parent and children under 18, as a share of all families.
Palo Alto (Census ACS B11003)
6.5%
Trend YoY growth is -0.7%, slowing by 11.4 pp/year over the last 10Y. Deviations have remained above trend for 4 consecutive periods. Latest: -0.5%, 16 bps above trend, a 0.24σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 1.3 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY Change (bps)
y = 0.5% − 11 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Economy
No data
Median earnings for full-time, year-round workers 16+.
$128.8k
Trend YoY growth is +8.9%, accelerating by 71 bps/year over the last 12Y. Latest: +8.2%, 68 bps below trend, a 0.31σ deviation. The latest YoY reading is depressed by 3.1 pp due to an tough comparison base from 2022.
Level
YoY %
y = 0.4% + 71 bps/yr · t
Deviation from trend
Public Safety
No data
No data