City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Cupertino, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cupertino - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

58,886
Residents
$231,139
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$4,214
Median rent (state)

Cupertino - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Cupertino lands in the 99th percentile for household income and the 40th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

99th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
100th
percentile, median rent
40th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cupertino, CA

58,886 people live in Cupertino, California - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Cupertino households earn a median of $231,139 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.2%. Typical homes in Cupertino are valued around $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. Educational attainment runs 83.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 60.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 94 residential building permits were authorized in Cupertino (Rapid Growth), up 38% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Cupertino reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1678.1 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $4,214 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 97.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

58,886 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$231,139 /yr

Poverty 3.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Cupertino compare to other US cities?

Where Cupertino sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 99% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 100% pricier than other cities
Safety 40% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at California, Cupertino ranks #179 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Cupertino's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in California, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

99thIncome percentile
40thSafety percentile

99th percentile nationally for median household income · 40th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cupertino's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cupertino's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 47 Avg. percentile National median
Cupertino's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cupertino's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$2,000,001 1st percentile more affordable than 1% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. Cupertino $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cupertino, CA Cupertino, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cupertino, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cupertino, CA median $231,139/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cupertino, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cupertino, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 83.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 60.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
58,886
Median Income
$231,139
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
3.2%
Labor force participation
60.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
83.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1678.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
111.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1566.3
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
57,000 residents58,000 residents59,000 residents60,000 residents61,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 59,983 residents 58,333 residents ▼ -2.8%
Cupertino's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
94
housing units authorized
Single-Family
88
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 68
2020 49
2021 67
2022 102
2023 120
2024 94

Permit volume increased 38% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
62.1%
Carpool
4.0%
Public Transit
1.1%
Walk
2.8%
Work from Home
28.3%
Other
1.7%

Based on 28,087 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cupertino sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$4,214/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.8 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Gilroy
58,561 people
Petaluma
59,321 people
Hanford
59,389 people
Santee
59,485 people
Monterey Park
59,639 people
Gardena
59,765 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cupertino's 58,886 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Grand Forks, ND
58,882 people
Wylie, TX
58,991 people
Taylorsville, UT
59,010 people
Casper, WY
58,754 people
Medford, MA
59,062 people
Burlington, NC
58,599 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cupertino's $231,139 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Roslyn Harbor, NY
$231,250 median income
Bernardsville, NJ
$231,006 median income
Franklin Lakes, NJ
$230,987 median income
Cranbury, NJ
$230,703 median income
Westwood, MO
$231,667 median income
New Albany, OH
$232,524 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cupertino, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cupertino, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 21.7% 71.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.8% White 21.7% Black or African American 1.0% Asian 71.7% American Indian 0.4% Native Hawaiian 0.3% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 4.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cupertino compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cupertino (this city) 58,886 $231,139
Gilroy 58,561 $131,554
Petaluma 59,321 $109,823
Hanford 59,389 $73,544
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cupertino, CA?

What is the population of Cupertino, CA? +

Cupertino, CA counts 58,886 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cupertino, CA? +

The median household income in Cupertino is $231,139 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cupertino? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cupertino; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Cupertino, CA safe? +

Cupertino has a total crime rate of 1678.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Cupertino, CA? +

Cupertino's median home value sits at $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.