Ravenswood 101 signs, 2005
East Palo Alto’s story
56 years in pictures
Census counts: 18,727 in 1970, 30,034 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 6 maps from 1897 on.
- 1970East Palo Alto is settled
East Palo AltoCA
Population 28,872: a town settled in 1970.
2 bordering townsMap →
Photo: Ardenmachro · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
28,872
2025 Census estimate · −3.9% since 2020
Typical home
$992K
−1% in a year
Household income
$113K
median
Median age
36.3
years
Jobs based here
7,272
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#477 of 841 in CA
Is East Palo Alto a good place to live?
Strong in places, weak in others. Where it falls short is cost of living (D): the typical home is worth about $992K, 7.3 years of the San Francisco metro’s $136K median household income. Its strongest subject is walkability: it is more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns. It is strong on incomes as well (B+): the median household earns $113K. Overall, that makes a C−, good for 477th of 841 in California. Nationally, it does better than 22% of U.S. towns. East Palo Alto’s midsummer high is 74°F, against 89°F in California’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns. 15% of the land locally is conserved, where California’s towns sit at 4.2% and U.S. towns at 4.3%.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow · NOAA normals, 1991–2020 · USGS PAD-US.
What makes East Palo Alto stand out
Where East Palo Alto beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave East Palo Alto for work
Where East Palo Alto’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
7,272jobs based in East Palo Alto
5%of working residents work in town
10 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How East Palo Alto grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far East Palo Alto is from typical.
Cost of livingHomes are among the least affordable for local incomesDOpen →Hazard riskEarthquakes top the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.9 of 20; 6.1% of households have no carAOpen →SafetyIn the bottom fifth of the towns comparedC−Open →Jobs & incomeGraded on incomes, poverty and employmentB+Open →HealthStanford Health Care 4 miles awayBOpen →SchoolsAbout average among the towns comparedBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 14% conserved landB+Open →History7 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life5.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsCOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Housing market31 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.3; 27% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 250 attractions →Levi's Stadium and 221 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around East Palo Alto. Close and well known come first.
Big draw10 mi Stadium & arenaLevi's Stadium
Big draw30 mi MuseumAlcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Big draw10 mi Theme parkCalifornia's Great America
Big draw23 mi MuseumUSS Hornet
Big draw25 mi Stadium & arenaChase Center
Big draw26 mi Stadium & arenaOracle ParkSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Levi's Stadium: Matthew Roth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary: druchoy, CC BY-SA 2.0 · California's Great America: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to East Palo Alto: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in East Palo Alto, and how to reach them.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of East Palo Alto water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offStanford Recycling Center, 3 miOpenStreetMap
SchoolsRavenswood City Elementary School DistrictSequoia Union High School District2 districts serve East Palo Alto; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSan Mateo County Clerk - ElectionsSan Mateo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2024
ZIP code9430394303 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in East Palo Alto.
East Palo Alto has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns, has home values still below their peak and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
SafetyC−
East Palo Alto sees more crime per resident than 85% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 748 to 620 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
In East Palo Alto, the property offense rate is 15.7 per 1,000 residents. The town’s violent offense rate comes in at 5.5 per 1,000 residents.
15%of U.S. towns report more crimeC−Safety Grade
| East Palo Alto | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.5 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 15.7 per 1,000 residents | 13.3 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
East Palo Alto5.5
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
East Palo Alto15.7
California18.2
U.S.15.5
15th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
22nd
percentile among CA towns
161
violent crimes reported in 2025
459
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
SchoolsB
Public schools in East Palo Alto beat 57% of California districts
The public schools here belong to the Ravenswood City Elementary school district. Below: Two of its 8 schools, each with why it was picked. Public school enrollment in East Palo Alto: 1,907 students across 5 schools.
57%of CA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire East Palo Alto CharterLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 496 | – |
| East Palo Alto AcademyLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 278 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Natural hazards: very high risk in East Palo Alto, mostly earthquakes
Flood insurance has paid out on 23 claims in East Palo Alto since 1998. Storm and flood damage is expected to run higher than in 88% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in East Palo Alto break down as 68% from earthquakes and 30% from inland flooding. Households here have drawn federal disaster aid in 2 declared disasters, most recently in 2022.
88risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
EarthquakesInland flooding
23
paid flood claims since 1998
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most of East Palo Alto’s workers commute out: the town has 0.6 jobs for each of them
Jobs based here grew from 3,700 in 2013 to 7,272.
Most people who work leave East Palo Alto to do it: just 5% work in town. Employers in East Palo Alto added 3,572 jobs between 2013 and 2023, to 7,272. Half the trips to work are shorter than 10 miles. In East Palo Alto, the average trip to work is 24 minutes.
5%work in town
| East Palo Alto | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $113,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 15% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In East Palo Alto5%
Palo Alto12%
San Jose8%
San Francisco6%
Redwood City6%
10 mi
median commute distance
7,272
jobs based in East Palo Alto
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 87% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade D
East Palo Alto’s grade for cost of living is a D
The typical value, about $992K, is 14% below its May 2022 peak. At about $992K, home values are down 8% in five years, against a rise of 13% across California.
East Palo Alto’s median rent stands at $2,244 a month. The typical home value locally is about $992,000, down 1% in a year, 30% above the California typical home. 49% of households own their home in the town.
$992KZillow home value
| East Palo Alto | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,244 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 49% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
East Palo Alto$992K
California$762K
Market temperature
31
days on market
100.1%
sale-to-list price
−1%
value change, 1 year
10
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Mild winters and pleasant summers in East Palo Alto
January nights average 43.2°, milder than in 96% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 73.7°.
For East Palo Alto, the January low is 43°F. It almost never snows.
74°summer high
| East Palo Alto | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 74°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 43°F | 40°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter44–60°
Spring49–67°
Summer56–74°
Fall52–70°
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
74°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB+
Open space protected for good: 14.5% of East Palo Alto
There are 1.4 miles of trail across 7 parks and preserves. The density of trails in East Palo Alto is 0.5 miles per square mile.
#522for trails in CA
14.5%
conserved · 244 of 1,686 acres
1.4 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ravenswood Open Space Preserve | — | 7 |
| 2. Cooley Landing Park | — | 5 |
| 3. Bell Street Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB
East Palo Alto ranks healthier than 61% of the country’s towns
Against the 6,678 U.S. towns with household incomes like East Palo Alto’s, it is less healthy than 71%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
For adults in East Palo Alto, the share who say their health is fair or poor is 24%. This California town does better than the California average on 7 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 9. In East Palo Alto, 39% of adults feel lonely, and 27% have high blood pressure.
61%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| East Palo Alto | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 65% | 72% | 79% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 36% | 33% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 9% | 8.1% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 31% | 35% |
32 measures vs. California
7 better16 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | East Palo Alto | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 3.8% | 6.4% |
| Fewer adults with COPD | 3.8% | 5.1% |
| More uninsured adults | 15.5% | 10.6% |
Stanford Health Care
4 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
49th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Palo Alto
20pages on East Palo Alto
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 57% of CA districts · 8 schoolsSafetyC−5.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than CA on 7 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$992K typical home · down 1% in a yearWork & commuteB+$113K median household income · 7,272 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 88% of U.S. communities · earthquakes
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
22 within 15 miles of the center of East Palo Alto
Sofia UniversityUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Palo Alto2.9 miCanada CollegeCommunity college · Public · Redwood City7.4 mi$1,332 in-state tuitionCalifornia State University-East BayUniversity or college · Public · Hayward13.8 mi$7,583 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 East Palo Alto residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
Famous people from East Palo Alto
7 notable people were born in East Palo Alto.
C
Christian DeanAmerican soccer player · born 1993
T
Troy FranklinAmerican football player · born 2003J
Justin WillisAmerican mixed martial artist · born 1987
About East Palo Alto
City in California, United States
East Palo Alto ( EAST PAL-oh AL-toh; abbreviated E.P.A.) is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of East Palo Alto was 30,034. It is situated on the San Francisco Peninsula, roughly halfway between the cities of San Francisco and San Jose. To the north and east is the San Francisco Bay, to the west is the city of Menlo Park, and to the south the city of Palo Alto. East Palo Alto was founded as an unincorporated community and was incorporated in July 1983. The two cities are separated only by San Francisquito Creek and, largely, the Bayshore Freeway (the vast majority of East Palo Alto is northeast of the freeway, while all of the resid…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 20 ft
- Area code
- 650
East Palo Alto’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with East Palo Alto.
Menlo ParkPalo AltoEast Palo Alto
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Palo Alto | #477 | C− | D | C− | B | B |
| Menlo Park | #109 | B+ | D− | C+ | A− | A+ |
| Palo Alto | #112 | B+ | D− | C− | A+ | A+ |
Questions about East Palo Alto
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Palo Alto, CA a good place to live?
East Palo Alto grades C− overall, better than 22% of U.S. towns and #477 of 841 in California. It grades B for health, C− for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
What is East Palo Alto, CA known for?
7 notable people were born here, including Powerhouse Hobbs and Christian Dean.