Signals
Alum Rock
Palo Alto
Opportunity
64 · Top 33%
vs74 · Top 16%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 20%
vs26 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 14%
vs57 · Bottom 16%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs98 · Top 20%
Economic stability
64 · Top 41%
vs60 · Bottom 49%
Measured values
| Metric | Alum Rock | Palo Alto | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,440 | 67,237 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $126,705 | $231,101 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,114 | $123,939 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 12,014/sq mi | 2,796/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $909,500 | $2,000,001 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,389 | $3,484 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 70.2% | 54.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 82.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.2% | 6.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 81°F | 77°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 13.5" | 13.4" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 6 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 23.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.0 | 43.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Alum Rock
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Palo Alto
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Alum Rock, CA · Palo Alto, CA · How this is calculated: methodology