Signals
Los Altos
Alum Rock
Opportunity
68 · Top 26%
vs64 · Top 33%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
25 · Bottom 20%
vs25 · Bottom 20%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 21%
vs55 · Bottom 14%
Access
99 · Top 8%
vs99 · Top 8%
Economic stability
62 · Top 46%
vs64 · Top 41%
Measured values
| Metric | Los Altos | Alum Rock | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 30,698 | 10,440 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $250,000+ | $126,705 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $149,247 | $39,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,694/sq mi | 12,014/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $909,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $3,501 | $2,389 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 81.7% | 70.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 4.0% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 88.1% | 24.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.2% | 6.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 77°F | 81°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 13.4" | 13.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 30.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.9 | 41.0 | 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
Los Altos
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Alum Rock
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Los Altos, CA · Alum Rock, CA · How this is calculated: methodology