What's Living in Palo Alto Like? 🤷 | Moving to Palo Alto ULTIMATE Guide (2023)

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Inside of the San Francisco Bay Area is the gorgeous city of Palo Alto, CA. Known to be one of the best suburbs in the Bay Area, Palo Alto provides a safe, friendly environment for all its residents. The city is more than 100 years old and is named after an astonishing 1,000 year old coastal redwood tree that was along San Francisquito Creek, which is where Spanish explorers first settled in the area. Palo Alto is nicknamed the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley”, and is best known for being home to many multi-billion dollar technological companies. With pleasant weather, an active nightlife, and various outdoor activities, Palo Alto provides a comfortable culture and desirable lifestyle for all their residents. Famous people from Palo Alto include actor James Franco and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Table of Contents

Palo Alto, CA Population & Demographics

Palo Alto’s population is 67,019 with a slight population decline of .0939%. The racial demographics in Palo Alto are 55.2% White, 32.5% Asian, 4.44% Hispanic, 4.26% mixed races, and 1.54% African American. The median household income in Palo Alto is $157,120, which is a 6.5% growth from last year thanks to Palo Alto’s increasingly prosperous economy. The median age in Palo Alto is 41.9, so there are many young professionals residing there. For every 52 females, there are 48 males living in Palo Alto. Palo Alto is a very safe place to live; with Palo Alto’s violent crime rates being 66% lower than the national average. Violent crimes in Palo Alto are 66% lower than the national average.

The area code in Palo Alto is 650. Palo Alto’s zip codes are 94020, 94022, 94024, 94028, 94301, 94302, 94303, 94304, 94306, and 95033. Those living in Palo Alto will be located in Santa Clara County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Palo Alto Cost of Living

Living in Palo Alto isn’t the most affordable place when you’re comparing the cost of living to the rest of California. Palo Alto is 68% more expensive to live in than the rest of California. Housing in Palo Alto is 53% more expensive than the national average. The housing market in Palo Alto is considered to be very competitive with homes being sold within 19 days and 1% over the original asking price. The average cost of a home in Palo Alto is $2.89 million or $1,580 per square foot. If you’re interested in living in Palo Alto, now is the best time to purchase one of the many Palo Alto, CA homes for sale. The homeownership rate in Palo Alto is 54.9%, so there are still plenty of people looking to rent. If you’re planning on renting in Palo Alto, you can expect to pay around $3,389. The rent trends in Palo Alto have been decreasing by 7% to 10% for one and two bedroom apartments, making it a perfect time to rent!

The housing costs in Palo Alto can seem burdensome, however there are other expenses that are much more affordable. Utilities in Palo Alto are 11% cheaper than the national average, which can ease your worries about the other expensive essentials.

Palo Alto Cost of Items (Everyday Expenses)

  • Meal at a restaurant: $16.50
  • Fast food meal: $8.00
  • Gallon of milk: $3.77
  • Gallon of gas: $3.48
  • Internet: $75.57

Palo Alto, CA Neighborhoods

Those relocating to Palo Alto have plenty of awesome neighborhoods. The most popular neighborhoods in Palo Alto are Barron Park, University South, Crescent Park, and Venura. Barron Park is one of the bigger neighborhoods in the area with multiple single-family homes available. There are many parks and shops nearby, making it a fun place to raise kids. University South is placed right by Stanford University and located near a freeway. The neighborhood offers a more urban feel as there are many restaurants and shops nearby. Crescent Park has bigger homes compared to other neighborhoods nearby, which also means the neighborhood is more expensive to live in. Ventura is a smaller neighborhood with gorgeous medium sized homes and is considered the best place in Palo Alto to raise a family since it offers a safe, friendly atmosphere for kids. Not to mention that the amazing schools in Ventura are what attracts families to the area.

Palo Alto, CA Weather

One of the many reasons people relocate to Palo Alto is for its pleasant Meditarrean climate. The summers in Palo Alto are long and warm with highs of 87°F and lows of 60°F. Palo Alto’s winters are cool and wet with an average high temperature of 57°F and low temperature of 44°F. There aren’t many rainy days in Palo Alto.

Things to Do in Palo Alto, CA

Wondering what fun activities there are to do in Palo Alto? No worries, we’ve found the most popular things to do in Palo Alto down below:

Hewlett Packard Garage

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If you’re looking to go back in time, the Hewlett Packard Garage is the place to go. The garage provides all its visitors a look into the beginning of the successful technological company of Hewlett-Packard. This place represents the successes of the birthplace of the Silicon Valley, which is really cool to learn about since it played such an important part in Palo Alto’s economy!

367 Addison Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Rodin Sculpture Garden

Rodin Sculpture Garden is a perfect place to see beautiful sculptures that have been delicately designed! These displays are all outside, so you can also enjoy the pleasant weather while viewing these artistic pieces. There are hundreds of reviews online raving about this place, so you’ll want to make sure to pay a visit if you want a fun attraction in Palo Alto!

Palo Alto, CA 94304, (650) 723-4177

Palo Alto provides convenient shopping places like the Midtown Shopping Center, Town & Country Village, and Stanford Shopping Center.

Additional Things To Do Near Palo Alto

Palo Alto Restaurants

Wondering where you can get a delicious bite to eat? We’ve discovered the highest rated restaurants in Palo Alto that are complimented on their food and service! Check them out below:

Palo Alto Creamery

This retro-style Palo Alto diner offers the best dishes in town with options of eggs, french toast, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and more! You also won’t want to miss out on the restaurant’s famous milkshakes and fountain drinks that customers rave over!

566 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA 94301, (650) 323-3131

Terun

Terun is the perfect spot for a lovely date night! This Italian restaurant in Palo Alto is praised for their tasty pasta, salads, pastas, and nice patio setting! With over a thousand positive reviews on Google alone, this is a local favorite.

448 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, (650) 600-8310

Jobs in Palo Alto, CA

The median household salary in Palo Alto is $157,120. The city employs 32,287 people. The majority of jobs in Palo Alto are found within professional and technical services, manufacturing, and educational services. The highest paying jobs are found in management of companies and enterprises, information, and manufacturing. Most residents have an average commute time of 22.6 minutes. However, some people have to travel further to bigger cities like San Francisco or San Jose. If you’re planning to commute to San Francisco for your job, you can click here for directions from Palo Alto, CA to San Francisco, CA here, which is 34 minutes away.

Schools in Palo Alto, CA

The amazing schools in Palo Alto attract many people to the area. The most popular schools in Palo Alto are Fairmeadow Elementary School, Herbert Hoover Elementary School, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, Palo Alto High School, and Henry M. Gunn High School. All of these schools are highly complimented on their diverse environment, student progress, and students’ high test scores. There are also many great private schools in Palo Alto, including Emerson, Bowman International School, Challenger, and Discovery Children’s House Montessori School. Palo Alto is also known for being the home of Stanford University.

Living in Palo Alto Pros & Cons

  • Residents experience good weather year-round
  • The schools in Palo Alto are rated 8 or higher on Great Schools
  • The cost of living is higher than the California average

Does living in Palo Alto sound right for you? If so, you’ll want to hire the best Palo Alto moving company to get you settled in! No matter where you’re relocating from, AMS Relocation is here to make it easy. Our Palo Alto movers will do everything from start to finish. Call today for a free quote!

FAQs

What's it like living in Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto is a town in California with a population of 68,624. Palo Alto is in Santa Clara County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Palo Alto offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Palo Alto there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

What are the pros of living in Palo Alto? ›

Greenery and wildlife are a huge part of what makes Palo Alto feel so down to earth, even as it brims with some of the wealthiest figures in tech. There are over 30 parks to take advantage of, such as Foothills Park and Wunderlich Park, and countless trails with stunning city views.

What is the vibe of Palo Alto? ›

The Vibe. Palo Alto is a unique mix of urban and countryside! You'll find big-city amenities such as upscale restaurants, trendy boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife, alongside a staggering 36 nature preserves and parks.

Where is the best place to live in Palo Alto? ›

The most popular neighborhoods in Palo Alto are Barron Park, University South, Crescent Park, and Venura. Barron Park is one of the bigger neighborhoods in the area with multiple single-family homes available. There are many parks and shops nearby, making it a fun place to raise kids.

Why are people leaving Palo Alto? ›

Those who intend to flee cited housing costs, quality of life, taxes and homelessness as the most powerful motivators. Even some of those set on staying aren't happy about it: Of those who don't plan to leave the Bay Area, 15% said they want to move, but can't.

What is middle class salary in Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto's median household income is $137,043 — more than double that of the U.S. at large.

Where do rich people live in Palo Alto? ›

Old Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California

California is home to most of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States, and Old Palo Alto is the second richest in America. It's a historic neighborhood in the Northern California town of Palo Alto.

What is a decent salary in Palo Alto? ›

Average Salary in Palo Alto, CA
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$126,367$10,530
75th Percentile$125,074$10,422
Average$96,065$8,005
25th Percentile$67,055$5,587

Is it safe to walk in Palo Alto at night? ›

Palo Alto is an extremely safe community, and other than taking obvious precautions when out at night, visitors should feel comfortable freely exploring the city. Use common sense and extra care when using the pedestrian tunnels at the train stations, and avoid walking alone at night.

What is special about Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto is a dynamic global city just outside the Stanford University campus. The city is named after a majestic 1,000 year old coastal redwood tree along San Francisquito Creek, where early Spanish explorers once camped and has grown alongside Stanford University for more than 125 years.

What is a fun fact about Palo Alto? ›

The English translation of the Spanish word 'Palo Alto' is 'Tall Tree'. The Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area is littered with redwood trees called El Palo Alto. Perhaps it is this tree that inspired the people who named Palo Alto neighborhood to call it so.

Which part of Palo Alto is safest? ›

Safest Palo Alto neighborhoods
  • Triple El.
  • Sterling Gardens / Sterling Park.
  • Greenmeadow.
  • Palo Verde / Charleston Gardens.
  • Old Palo Alto.
  • Crescent Park / Community Center.
  • Fairmeadow.
  • Neal.

What is the richest neighborhood in Palo Alto? ›

Midtown. With a median home price of $3,162,915 and a median rent of $2,767, Midtown is the most expensive neighborhood on our list. Based on the growth in home prices in Midtown over the last 3 years, it ranks No. 1 among all the neighborhoods in Palo Alto.

Is Palo Alto better than San Francisco? ›

Palo Alto: Differences. Comparing San Francisco and Palo Alto boils down to culture, activities, and space. San Francisco is a bustling cultural hub, offering regular access to art museums, music, nightlife and more. Palo Alto is quieter and more suburban.

How many homeless people are in Palo Alto? ›

According to Palo Alto Online, there were 313 homeless people living in Palo Alto in 2019. The new site would house people for 3 to 4 months at a time which gives it the ability to service all of Palo Alto's homeless population over a year span.

Is it worth moving to Palo Alto? ›

If you're looking for a place to escape the harsh winters experienced in other parts of the country, Palo Alto is definitely worth considering! Palo Alto is also home to some of the best schools in California.

What is the future of Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto's solid share of this market bodes well for the company's future, as the global next-generation firewall market is expected to be worth $9.6 billion in 2027, compared to $4.4 billion last year.

What is the famous street in Palo Alto? ›

Sand Hill Road, often shortened to just "Sand Hill" or "SHR", is an arterial road in western Silicon Valley, California, running through Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Woodside, notable for its concentration of venture capital companies.

What is the popular street in Palo Alto? ›

University Ave - the main street - Picture of Palo Alto, California.

What is the best beach town near Palo Alto? ›

Situated on the Pacific Ocean and just 22 miles from Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay is an ideal spot to sunbathe, surf or simply walk along one of the many stellar beaches.

What salary is upper class? ›

Pew Research defines middle-income Americans as those whose annual household incomes are two-thirds to double the national median (adjusted for local cost of living and household size).
...
What Is Middle-Class Income?
Income groupIncome
Middle income$52,200 - $156,600
Upper incomeMore than $156,600
1 more row
Feb 27, 2023

What is middle class in Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley, is home to some of the wealthiest residents in the US. Sunny Palo Alto. Population 67,000. A suburb home to 2,300 startups, where the median income is double the US average and people earning up to $400,000 a year consider themselves "middle class."

What is the new minimum wage in Palo Alto? ›

Updates to the Minimum Wage

On January 1, 2023, the adjusted Local Minimum Wage will increase to $16.50 per hour for all employers in the City of East Palo Alto - See City Council accepted staff report that describes the increase to the City's Local Minimum Wage by the Consumer Price Index.

Where do most billionaires live in California? ›

Los Altos Hills
  • The richest city in California is Los Altos Hills. ...
  • Located in Silicon Valley, Los Altos Hills has 8,000 residents, many of whom work in tech. ...
  • The second wealthiest city in California is Woodside. ...
  • The third wealthiest city in California is Hillsborough.
Nov 18, 2022

Where is Zuckerberg's house Palo Alto? ›

Sliding glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows are fitted in most of the communal rooms for natural sunlight to pour in, as seen in the house's virtual tour. Like Zuckerberg's current home in Palo Alto, California, the house at 1743 Westbrook Avenue features timber flooring.

How many billionaires are there in Palo Alto? ›

PALO ALTO, CA — Nine of the richest people in the country live in Palo Alto, according to Forbes, which released The Forbes 400 — its annual list of the 400 richest U.S. billionaires — on Tuesday.

How much does a Palo Alto manager earn? ›

The estimated total pay for a Manager at Palo Alto Networks is $264,737 per year.

How much does mcdonalds pay in Palo Alto? ›

The average McDonald's hourly pay ranges from approximately $13 per hour for a Team Member/Cashier to $199 per hour for a Chief Executive Officer. McDonald's employees rate the overall compensation and benefits package 3/5 stars. What is the highest salary at McDonald's?

What is the salary of senior staff Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto Networks Senior Staff Software Engineer salary in India ranges between ₹ 32.0 Lakhs to ₹ 44.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of ₹ 38.5 Lakhs.

Are there mosquitoes in Palo Alto? ›

The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District has confirmed the presence of West Nile virus-positive mosquitoes in a small area that includes Palo Alto and Los Altos (ZIP codes 94304, 94306 and 94022).

Where can I get laid in Palo Alto? ›

Best hookup bar near me in Palo Alto, California
  • All "hookup bar" results in Palo Alto, California. Showing 1-18 of 18.
  • Bert's Stadium Sports Bar. 6.8 mi. ...
  • The Blue Pheasant Restaurant. 5.9 mi. ...
  • The Cardiff Lounge. 12.5 mi. ...
  • The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse. 2.6 mi. ...
  • Pan Hookah Lounge. ...
  • Coach's Sports Bar. ...
  • Paradise Hookah Lounge.

Is Palo Alto prone to earthquakes? ›

The City of Palo Alto lies between two large faults — the San Andreas and Hayward Faults. Although advances in seismic retrofitting have taken place since then, scientists are warning that a major earthquake of 6.7 magnitude or higher is likely in the next 10 years, which would still cause massive damage.

Do you need a car to live in Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto is like a lot of towns in California, it generally relies on cars to get around. Caltrain takes you into San Francisco in 40 minutes on the Baby Bullet. Slower trains stop along the way at towns such as San Jose and Gilroy. VTA runs the local buses in the area which can take you as far as San Jose.

What makes Palo Alto different? ›

Extensible, Efficient Architecture

Palo Alto firewalls are based on a single-pass architecture that processes each packet just once for all security features or processes. This means that, unlike most other firewalls, Palo Alto NGFW performance does not degrade as more security features are enabled.

What is the poverty line in Palo Alto? ›

The official poverty line is $250k household income in Palo Alto.

What was one of the problems the city of Palo Alto has? ›

Palo Alto's biggest problem is that it is being overrun by companies that have no sense of their enormous and usually negative impact on residents, on displacement of residents, on costs, on quality of life, on the environment, traffic, people's productivity, and absolutely no sense of responsibility to pay for the ...

Why are the trees in Palo Alto blue? ›

The trees were colored with an environmentally-safe blue paint with the aim of raising awareness of global deforestation.

What is the oldest house in Palo Alto? ›

The home at 1450 Edgewood was once the carriage house. Significance: This is the oldest house in Palo Alto and its importance is historical, rather than architectural.

Is tap water safe to drink in Palo Alto? ›

Palo Alto water is not only completely safe to drink it also tastes great and is much more environmentally sound than drinking bottled water. Why is it that everyone used to drink water out of a tap, and all of a sudden bottled water became the norm?

Where is the cheapest place to live around Palo Alto? ›

With a median home price of $3,100,285 and a median rent of $2,777, Triple El is the most affordable neighborhood on our list. Based on the growth in home prices in Triple El over the last 3 years, it ranks No. 18 among all the neighborhoods in Palo Alto.

Why is it so expensive to live in Palo Alto? ›

The average price in Palo Alto per square foot is $1371, while the average property value in Palo Alto is $2496500. Apartments in Palo Alto and places for rent in Palo Alto have an average price of $5900. The main reason for the high cost of living in the city is the high cost of houses and rising property value.

Where do tech billionaires live? ›

Thirty-five people made California's billionaire list for the first time in 2021, Forbes reported, and more than half of them had the tech industry to thank. California still has more billionaires than any other state; New York is second with 126.

Where do wealthy people live in the Bay Area? ›

9 Richest Neighborhoods in San Francisco
  • Presidio Heights.
  • Sea Cliff.
  • Marina District.
  • Haight-Ashbury.
  • Noe Valley.
  • Pacific Heights.
  • Glen Park.
  • Russian Hill.
Jan 24, 2023

Where do wealthy people live? ›

#1: New York

New York is the wealthiest city in the world⁠—home to 345,600 millionaires with a total private wealth that exceeds $3 trillion.

Are people in Palo Alto nice? ›

Palo Alto Reviews

I like the family friendly activities that are available in Palo Alto. There are excellent schools, shops, and restaurants. The people are very friendly and the weather in the Bay Area is amazing year-round! Palo Alto is a very family friendly city.

Who are Palo Alto biggest competitors? ›

Competitors and Alternatives to Palo Alto Networks
  • Cisco.
  • Fortinet.
  • Check Point Software Technologies.
  • Juniper.
  • SonicWall.
  • Barracuda.
  • Sophos.
  • Forcepoint.

What salary is needed to live in Palo Alto? ›

What's a livable salary in Palo Alto? If you are willing to live with roommates, then $96K should be a livable salary. If you want to rent a whole 3BR house or condo, then you probably need a salary of about $250-$300K.

Is Palo Alto a wealthy area? ›

Old Palo Alto, Palo Alto, California

California is home to most of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States, and Old Palo Alto is the second richest in America.

Is it expensive to live in Palo Alto? ›

Cost of Living in Palo Alto, California by Expense Category

Palo Alto's housing expenses are 26% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 9% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 24% higher than the national average.

What is Palo Alto minimum wage? ›

Palo Alto, California Minimum Wage Poster

Effective January 1st, 2023, the minimum wage within Palo Alto, California, has been increased by $0.85 from $16.45/hr to $17.30/hr. The mandatory Minimum Wage Posting was released on the 28th of September, 2022, to show the new minimum wage starting in 2023.

How many billionaires live in Palo Alto? ›

Nine of the richest people in the country live in Palo Alto, including Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Larry Page.

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