How much does it cost to rent in Palo Alto, CA?

As of May 2026, the median monthly rent in Palo Alto, CA is $4,170. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Palo Alto cheaper than other California cities?

Palo Alto is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #30 out of 379 cities tracked at $4,170/mo.

When was Palo Alto rent data last updated?

Palo Alto rent data reflects May 2026 and was last refreshed on May 30, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Palo Alto

Name: Average Rent Prices in Palo Alto, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 67,237·30th most expensive in California·Palo Alto rents are up 12.7% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,170/mo

Year-over-Year

+12.7%

Month-over-Month

+3.1%

vs US Median

+$2,240

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Palo Alto · $4,170

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,930/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,900

1 BR

$3,305

2 BR

$3,830

3 BR

$4,975

4 BR+

$5,420

Research median

$3,830/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: May 30, 2026

Annual cost

$50,040/yr

At $4,170/mo median

Market timing

Rents rising

Act sooner rather than later.

Rent Reality Score

31/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% above what Palo Alto's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$4,170/mo

Expected by trend

$3,807/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Palo Alto's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Demographics

Who lives here

Palo Alto, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 82.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

67,237

Median income

$231,101

Median age

43.6

Renters

45.4%

Age distribution

22.2%

16.4%

27.9%

13.7%

19.9%

Under 1822.2%

18–3416.4%

35–5427.9%

55–6413.7%

65+19.9%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

45.7%

38.1%

White45.7%

Black1.8%

Hispanic7.9%

Asian38.1%

Other6.5%

Education (25+)

82.3%

No HS diploma3.2%

HS diploma5.3%

Some college9.2%

Bachelor's+82.3%

Housing tenure

54.6%

45.4%

Owner54.6%

Renter45.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Palo Alto, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,281 → $4,170

up 27.1%

Income

$194,782 → $231,101

up 18.6%

Population

68,624 → 67,237

down 2.0%

Renter share

44.1% → 45.4%

+1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

82.7% → 82.3%

-0.4 pts

Median age

41.8 → 43.6

+1.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Palo Alto, CA paid around $3,281 a month. That figure now sits near $4,170, up 27.1% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $231,101 today, compared with $194,782 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Palo Alto, CA losing about 1,387 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Palo Alto

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View Palo Alto rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Palo Alto on your salary?

At $4,170/mo, how Palo Alto rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 44.9% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 63.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 54.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 30.7% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 24% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 67.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 74.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 60.7% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Palo Alto rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Palo Alto. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Palo Alto

About renting in Palo Alto, CA

Last updated: May 30, 2026

The median rent in Palo Alto is $4,170/mo as of May 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,900/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,830/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,305/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,975/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($231,101/yr), Palo Alto ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Palo Alto an affordable city for renters?

Palo Alto is considered very affordable for renters. At $4,170/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($231,101/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Palo Alto falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Palo Alto?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $167,000/year (~$80/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,170/mo in Palo Alto. The local median household income is $231,101/yr, meaning the typical Palo Alto household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Palo Alto?

Rent in Palo Alto has increased 12.7% over the past year as of May 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Palo Alto neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Palo Alto are 94306 ($3,644/mo), and 94301 ($4,669/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Palo Alto is $4,170/mo.

How does Palo Alto rent compare to other cities in California?

Palo Alto is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #30 out of 379 tracked cities at $4,170/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Palo Alto?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Palo Alto ($4,170/mo): Redwood City ($3,804/mo), Mountain View ($4,077/mo), Menlo Park ($4,117/mo).

What percentage of Palo Alto residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 45.4% of Palo Alto households are renters, while 54.6% are owner-occupied. Palo Alto leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Palo Alto rent compare to the national average?

Palo Alto's median rent of $4,170/mo is $2,240 (116%) above the US national median of $1,930/mo. Within California, it ranks #30 out of 379 tracked cities.

Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $4,170/mo, rent takes ~22% of Palo Alto's median household income ($231,101/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Palo Alto 22%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Palo Alto affordability calculator →

Nearby cities