© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Menlo Park.
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
About
Life in Menlo Park
If you're considering Menlo Park, understand that you're looking at one of the most expensive housing markets in America—median home values top $2 million and rent runs around $3,240 monthly. The economy is heavily concentrated in venture capital and tech, centered around Sand Hill Road and Meta's massive headquarters, which means strong job prospects in those sectors but less economic diversity overall. The community is highly educated and affluent, with about 73% of adults holding college degrees, creating a particular demographic character.
Menlo Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
39.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.8%
Foreign-Born
30.0%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
-3.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics30.0% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Menlo Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Menlo Park, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (13.8%), and 15.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
16.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
27.2%
of households
Married Couples
55.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.68
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 59% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Menlo Park
In Menlo Park, rent runs 59% above the CA average, and home values are 172% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
44.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
15.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
115.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
54.2%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1964
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $2,898,368 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.9 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Menlo Park and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Menlo Park is 1.9 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Menlo Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area
Commute23.9 min avg
How Menlo Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Menlo Park, most residents drive alone to work (48%), and 68% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
Medium hub5.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 16 mi
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Major hub26.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 45% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Menlo Park runs 45% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
182.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,547.7
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Menlo Park Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 15 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
99.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Mateo County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Mateo County, which includes Menlo Park, the most common type is strong wind, with 15 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | Flood | $10 |
| 2024 | 14 | Flood | $30 |
| 2023 | 15 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 11 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 21 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 25 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2019 | 42 | Strong Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 23 | Strong Wind | $10,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
275 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Menlo Park is about 4% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality27 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2024)
Air quality in San Mateo County, which includes Menlo Park, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
27
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
38
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
San Mateo County, county-wide
Menlo Park is about 4% of San Mateo County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate79°F summers, 40°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Menlo Park has mild summers (avg high 79°F) and mild winters (avg low 40°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/46°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
79°/55°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/40°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
15.1"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
12
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
14
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
56
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58°F | 39°F | 2.95" |
| Feb | 61°F | 41°F | 3.18" |
| Mar | 66°F | 44°F | 2.19" |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 0.97" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 0.44" |
| Jun | 79°F | 53°F | 0.10" |
| Jul | 79°F | 56°F | 0.00" |
| Aug | 79°F | 55°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 80°F | 53°F | 0.07" |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 0.64" |
| Nov | 64°F | 43°F | 1.60" |
| Dec | 58°F | 39°F | 2.95" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Menlo Park
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Menlo Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hsp at Stanford
Childrens · 3.3 mi away · Palo Alto
Stanford Health Care
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Stanford
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.2 mi away · Redwood City
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Menlo Park
Menlo Park's student/teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 72.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
72.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Menlo Park (within 15 miles)
Public · 2-year · 15,264 students · in-state tuition $1,577 · 42% graduate · median earnings $62,175 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-East Bay
13.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 9,809 students · in-state tuition $7,993 · 69% graduate · median earnings $73,868 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,977 students · in-state tuition $1,332 · 30% graduate · median earnings $60,507 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,554 students · in-state tuition $68,544 · 96% graduate · median earnings $125,340 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 7,099 students · in-state tuition $1,202 · 28% graduate · median earnings $61,853 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,552 students · in-state tuition $63,513 · 89% graduate · median earnings $117,193 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, 25 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Menlo Park
Menlo Park has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (25 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site
National Historic Site
25 mi awaySan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
27 mi awayAlcatraz Island
National Park Site
28 mi awayPresidio of San Francisco
National Park Site
28 mi awayFort Point National Historic Site
National Historic Site
29 mi awayRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
32 mi awayJohn Muir National Historic Site
National Historic Site
35 mi awayGolden Gate National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
36 mi awayPublic Libraries in Menlo Park
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St., Menlo Park
Belle Haven Branch
413 Ivy Dr., Menlo Park
Cities Near Menlo Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Menlo Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Menlo Park FAQ
Is Menlo Park, California affordable?⌄
Menlo Park's median rent is $3,239/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $210,025/year. Median home value is $2,000,000+.
Is Menlo Park, California safe?⌄
Menlo Park's violent crime rate was 182 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1548 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Menlo Park, California?⌄
Menlo Park has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Menlo Park, California?⌄
The cost of living in Menlo Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $3,239/month and median household income is $210,025/year. The median home value is $2,000,000+. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Menlo Park, California?⌄
The average commute in Menlo Park is 24 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from