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Moving to
Los Altos.
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent, $250,000+ for household income and $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above those.
What it's like to live in Los Altos
Los Altos is a small city in California with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Los Altos deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
How Los Altos compares
Median household income
The Census tops out at $250,000+ for household income; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median rent (per month)
The Census tops out at $3,500+ for rent; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
Median home value
The Census tops out at $2,000,000+ for home value; it doesn't publish exact figures above that.
What it takes to move to Los Altos
Based on Los Altos's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$7,002
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $140,040 a year
- 37% of Los Altos renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$400,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $200,000
- Homes cost 8.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingCensus top category
$3,500+/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $3,500+ a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $2,000,000+. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $2,000,000+ · 37% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 89% below US
36 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 1038/100k · Los Altos Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 14% below US
22 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 39% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 77°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 145% above US
88% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site (32 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Los Altos's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (39% of workers here already work from home), and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Los Altos
All California guides →Moving to Mountain View →
2 mi away · pop. 83,732
Rent $3,062/mo · Income $189,917
Compare with Los Altos →Moving to Palo Alto →
3 mi away · pop. 67,237
Rent $3,484/mo · Income $231,101
Compare with Los Altos →Moving to Sunnyvale →
4 mi away · pop. 154,236
Rent $3,039/mo · Income $186,170
Compare with Los Altos →Not sure Los Altos is the one?
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