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California · City Profile
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto sits in Santa Clara, San Mateo, California, and is covered by 6 ZIP code tabulation areas. Across those ZIPs, an estimated 97,522 people live, work, and commute. Demographic and housing figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2018–2022).
Each ZIP code in Palo Alto has its own character. Some are dense and walkable; others are exurban or rural, with single-digit households per square mile. The list below lets you compare the basic shape of each one — population, income, and home value — before clicking through to the full neighborhood profile.
Across the city overall, the typical owner-occupied home is valued near $1,917,725 and median asking rent runs around $2,900 per month. Median household income hovers around $180,326. These are averages of ZIP-level medians and will read differently depending on which neighborhood you actually settle in — which is precisely what the per-ZIP pages are for.
ZIP codes in Palo Alto
| ZIP | County | Population | Median income | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94301 | Santa Clara | 17,259 | $217,611 | $2,000,001 |
| 94302 | Santa Clara | 0 | — | — |
| 94303 | San Mateo | 47,989 | $144,259 | $1,670,900 |
| 94304 | Santa Clara | 4,489 | $159,637 | $2,000,001 |
| 94306 | Santa Clara | 27,785 | $199,800 | $2,000,001 |
| 94309 | Santa Clara | 0 | — | — |
Thinking about relocating to Palo Alto?
A few practical considerations as you evaluate the move:
- Pick the ZIP, not just the city. Median income, school assignments, walkability and crime patterns can vary dramatically between neighboring ZIPs in the same city. Use the per-ZIP pages to compare.
- Compare housing math honestly. The median home value here is $1,917,725, and median rent is $2,900. At current mortgage rates, that often makes renting the more flexible option for the first 12–24 months while you learn the neighborhoods.
- Verify the commute. Drive your prospective work or school route at peak time — Google Maps optimistic estimates rarely match what locals actually experience.
- Check the boring stuff. Property tax rates, HOA dues, flood-zone designation, and homeowner's insurance availability are easier to research before you sign than after.