Rows tagged local are specific to Palo Alto (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from San Jose, CA. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 8/10 (district Palo Alto Unified · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
113.1
metro-area
#195 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
104.9
metro-area
#180 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$6.43
metro-area
#195 of 200 metros
Median household income
$214,118
local
#41 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$119,009
local
#17 of 3,220 cities
Who lives here
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median age
37.8 years
metro-area
#79 of 200 metros
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)
54.8%
metro-area
#3 of 200 metros
Foreign-born residents
40.3%
metro-area
#2 of 200 metros
Homes that are owner-occupied
55.7%
metro-area
#191 of 200 metros
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
3.26%
local
#611 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
+1.2%
local
#2099 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$2,000,001
local
#3199 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
9.3×
local
#3142 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
-1.4%
metro-area
#165 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$1333
local
#3200 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
1,500 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$3,169
local
#3176 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
3,201
Median days on market
13
metro-area
#69 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
13.5%
state
#169 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
8.82%
state
#150 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
13.30%
Capital gains tax
13.30%
state
#180 of 200 metros
High earners
1% Mental Health Services surtax on income over $1M (13.3% top rate)
Social Security in retirement
Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate
0.50%
local
#177 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$10,001
local
#2955 of 3,220 cities
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
83.7 years
metro-area
#2 of 200 metros
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$7,200
state
#139 of 200 metros
Uninsured (share of residents)
4.2%
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Primary care providers per 100k
104
metro-area
#12 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$19,000
state
#178 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$300
state
#174 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
0.65% of value (~$182/yr)
state
#115 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Required
Emissions detail
Smog check every 2 years in most counties
DMV & license offices
12
Avg commute to work
24 min
local
#905 of 3,220 cities
Commute by driving alone
62.2%
metro-area
#9 of 200 metros
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
39.1%
metro-area
#160 of 200 metros
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
35.3¢/kWh
state
#181 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$317
state
#181 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$4.85/gal
state
#182 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$72
state
#100 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$138
state
#159 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$83
state
#135 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,500
state
#51 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$2,400
state
#154 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
99.3 — Relatively High
metro-area
#190 of 200 metros
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$750
state
#90 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$950
state
#182 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
51
metro-area
#138 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
1,000
metro-area
#78 of 200 metros
Homes with air conditioning (state)
72%
state
#171 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
2,200
metro-area
#51 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 90°F
20
metro-area
#85 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 100°F
2
metro-area
#144 of 200 metros
Avg summer high (state)
84°F
metro-area
#37 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
45°F
metro-area
#20 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
13.5"
metro-area
#14 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
0.0"
metro-area
#1 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
68%
metro-area
#34 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
9b
Frost window
01-31 → 12-31
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
500
state
#161 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
2,330
state
#112 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
33
metro-area
#137 of 200 metros
Parks
60
Hiking areas
18
Golf courses
22
Shooting ranges
8
Lakes
38
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
5
state
#165 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Very difficult; CEQA + local review, esp. SF/coastal
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.