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City · 67,237 residents · Santa Clara County, California

Palo Alto , California

In Palo Alto, a typical home is worth $2,000,001 and typical rent is $3,484 a month. Compared with all of Santa Clara County, typical household income is 41% higher and the typical home value is 34% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $2,000,001

    34% above the county

    172% above California

    • Palo Alto
    • Santa Clara
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $3,484a month

    22% above the county

    71% above California

    • Palo Alto
    • Santa Clara
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $231,101a year

    41% above the county

    133% above California

    • Palo Alto
    • Santa Clara
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    55%

    About the same as the county

    1 points below California

    • Palo Alto
    • Santa Clara
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$3,592,240
5.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$4,558 a month
10.3% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Palo Alto is in Santa Clara County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Santa Clara County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Palo Alto apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Palo Alto has the highest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people: $2,000,001.

  2. Nearby, in East Palo Alto, the typical home value is $1,102,600: 45% less than in Palo Alto ($2,000,001).

  3. Nearby, in Stanford, the typical rent is $1,976: 43% less than in Palo Alto ($3,484).

  4. Palo Alto has the 23rd highest typical household income of the 659 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($231,101).

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Palo Alto rose 5.9%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

  6. Palo Alto has the 35th highest typical rent of the 648 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($3,484).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Palo Alto

What homes there are in Palo Alto, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

The detached house rules in Palo Alto: 58% of homes, more than in Santa Clara County (51%).

Year built

The typical home in Palo Alto was built in 1963, 12 years before the typical one in Santa Clara County.

By size, homes in Palo Alto look like those in Santa Clara County: 55% have 3 bedrooms or more.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

Without a mortgage

$1,420 a month

Santa Clara County: $1,155 a month

Owners with a mortgage

58%

Santa Clara County: 67%

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Rents in Palo Alto rose faster than in Santa Clara County: 36% since 2015–2019, against 26%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasurePalo AltoSanta Clara CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 10.2%5.1%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 3.6%7.5%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.562.822.842.53
Drive alone 44%60%66%69%
Carpool 5%9%10%9%
Public transit 2%2%3%3%
Walk or bike 13%3%3%3%
Work from home 35%24%17%15%
Other means 1%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in Palo Alto: 10.2% is empty and offered for rent, against 5.1% in Santa Clara County.

More than one person per room: that is how 3.6% of households in Palo Alto live, less than in Santa Clara County (7.5%).

On average, a household in Palo Alto has 2.56 people, fewer than in Santa Clara County (2.82).

Many people here do not commute at all: 35% work from home; in Santa Clara County, 24%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Palo Alto?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Palo Alto, worth $2,000,001, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 84% of the typical household income in Palo Alto, which is $231,101 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $693,267 a year. Note: at that price the loan is above the FHA limit for Santa Clara County ($1,249,125), so FHA would not insure it; the payment is only a reference.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Santa Clara County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Palo Alto. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $70,000 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This loan usually requires at least 3.5% down.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$16,176

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,963,776
Total interest
$2,825,413
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $33,775 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $5,392 a month

  • Tight

    $5,392 to $6,933 a month

  • Hard

    more than $6,933 a month

    Your payment · 84%

Compared with the typical household income in Palo Alto ($231,101 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$16,176
Principal & interest$13,303
Property tax$833
Home insurance$833
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$1,206

This loan is over the FHA limit

You'd borrow $1,930,001, but the FHA limit for a one-unit home in Palo Alto is $1,249,125. You'd need a bigger down payment or a different loan.

You need at least $70,000 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Palo Alto and Santa Clara County

Palo Alto is in Santa Clara County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Palo Alto's own numbers

Typical home value
$2,000,001
Typical monthly rent
$3,484
Typical yearly household income
$231,101
Households that own their home
55%
Effective property tax rate
0.5%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Santa Clara County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$3,272
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+35%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
6.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Santa Clara County.

Everything about Santa Clara County

Buying

Buying a home in Palo Alto

A typical home in Palo Alto is worth $2,000,001: 34% above the county and 172% above California. With the typical household income in Palo Alto ($231,101 a year), a typical home costs 8.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Palo Alto 8.7 years
  • Santa Clara 9.1 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Santa Clara County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Santa Clara County rose 64% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Santa Clara County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −0.6% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +35% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +64% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Palo Alto next to Santa Clara County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Palo Alto $2,000,001
  • Santa Clara $1,490,600
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Palo Alto $3,484
  • Santa Clara $2,857
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Palo Alto $231,101
  • Santa Clara $164,281
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Palo Alto next to Santa Clara County and California
Measure Palo Alto Santa Clara County California U.S.
Typical home value $2,000,001 $1,490,600 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $3,484 $2,857 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $231,101 $164,281 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 55% 55% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $10,001 $10,001 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.5% 0.67% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 44% 45% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Santa Clara County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Palo Alto

For a typical $2,000,001 home in Palo Alto, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Palo Alto's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $16,176a month

    Above the FHA limit for Santa Clara County ($1,249,125)
    Down payment
    $70,000
    Cash to close
    $130,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $1,206

  • Conventional, 5% down $15,488a month

    Above the conventional limit for Santa Clara County ($1,249,125): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $100,000
    Cash to close
    $160,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $950

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $12,506a month

    Above the conventional limit for Santa Clara County ($1,249,125): it would be a "jumbo" loan
    Down payment
    $400,000
    Cash to close
    $460,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $14,355a month

    Down payment
    $300,000
    Cash to close
    $360,000
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None
  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Palo Alto and for Santa Clara County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Palo Alto

0.5%of the home’s value each year

$10,001 a year for the typical owner in Palo Alto.

  • Palo Alto 0.5%
  • Santa Clara 0.67%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Santa Clara County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Santa Clara County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
6.7%
32,371
Of those, with NFIP insurance
22%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 6.7% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 22% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Palo Alto

Typical rent in Palo Alto is $3,484 a month: 22% above the county. In Palo Alto, 44% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Santa Clara County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,272 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $62.92 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Santa Clara County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,458 $47.27 $98,320
1 bedroom $2,778 $53.42 $111,120
2 bedrooms $3,272 $62.92 $130,880
3 bedrooms $4,396 $84.54 $175,840
4 bedrooms $4,688 $90.15 $187,520

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Palo Alto

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Palo Alto has 5 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,390 in 94303 to $3,990 in 94022.

5 of the 5 are above the fair market rent for Santa Clara County ($3,272).

  • 94022 $3,990$5,330
  • 94301 $3,650$4,830
  • 94303 $3,390$4,480
  • 94304 $3,880$5,210
  • 94306 $3,530$4,740

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Palo Alto when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Palo Alto

HUD lists 21 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Palo Alto. These are the largest.

  • Lytton Gardens I 656 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto 94301 220 homes, 184 low-income · For older adults (650) 328-3300
  • Palo Alto Gardens 648 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto 94306 156 homes, 155 low-income · 1 bd: 128 · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 8 · In service since 1999
  • Stevenson House 455 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto 94306 120 homes, 119 low-income · Studio: 92 · 1 bd: 28 · In service since 2017 · For older adults (650) 494-1944
  • Alma Place 753 Alma St, Palo Alto 94301 106 low-income homes · In service since 1998
  • Lytton Gardens II 649 University Ave, Palo Alto 94301 100 low-income homes · For older adults (650) 328-3300

See all 314 buildings in Santa Clara County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Palo Alto

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Santa Clara County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Palo Alto

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Palo Alto or Santa Clara County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Palo Alto the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Palo Alto

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Palo Alto, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Project Sentinel

    1490 El Camino Real, Santa Clara · 11 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 5 more
    (408) 470-3730

  • Santa Clara County Asian Law Alliance

    991 W Hedding St, San Jose · 13 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Cantonese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • Homelessness services
    • and 2 more
    (408) 287-9710

  • Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley - Milpitas

    1608 Las Plumas Ave, San Jose · 15 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (510) 803-3362

Every agency in Santa Clara County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Palo Alto

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Palo Alto

HUD’s record names them for Palo Alto or Santa Clara County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Santa Clara County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (408) 275-8770

One other authority has an office in Santa Clara County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Santa Clara County

These cities are also in Santa Clara County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Santa Clara County Housing in California
See 6 more cities in Santa Clara County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Palo Alto, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Santa Clara County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Palo Alto.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Palo Alto

Short answers with the numbers for Palo Alto and all of Santa Clara County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Palo Alto?

The typical home value in Palo Alto is $2,000,001, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Santa Clara County it is $1,490,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Palo Alto?

Typical rent in Palo Alto is $3,484 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Santa Clara County is $3,272.

What is the FHA loan limit in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto uses the FHA limit for all of Santa Clara County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Palo Alto?

The typical homeowner in Palo Alto pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.5% of the home’s value; in Santa Clara County, the rate is 0.67%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Palo Alto?

There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Santa Clara County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).