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.
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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
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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!
