Census-designated place · California
Emerald Lake Hills, California
Emerald Lake Hills, census-designated place, in San Mateo County, California. Emerald Lake Hills had 4,406 residents in the 2020 Census, a full count; the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 4,235 (±539). GEOID 0622587.
Residents, 2020 Census
4,406
Census count or controlled total
ACS 2020-2024 estimate: 4,235 ±539
Median household income
$250,000 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
California: $99,122
Median home value
$2,000,000 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$3,500 or more
The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
California: $2,036
Where is Emerald Lake Hills and what county is it in?
Emerald Lake Hills is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in San Mateo County, California. It covers 1.2 square miles of land, 3,728 residents per square mile in 2020.
Emerald Lake Hills is in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 5 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Emerald Lake Hills, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,406 residents in Emerald Lake Hills, a full count rather than a sample. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a sample, estimates 4,235 (±539).
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Emerald Lake Hills is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Emerald Lake Hills | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,235 ±539 | 742,340 | no clear change |
| Households | 1,538 ±163 | 264,419 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.73 ±0.19 | 2.76 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,572 ±171 | 287,184 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Emerald Lake Hills?
The median resident of Emerald Lake Hills is 45.4 years old; 23.6% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 68.4%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 12.4%. 18.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Emerald Lake Hills | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.4 ±3.0 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.6% ±4.3 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2% ±2.8 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 51.1% ±3.5 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11.3% ±5.1 pts | 24.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 68.4% ±6.6 pts | 34.7% | −9.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 12.4% ±3.3 pts | 31.0% | +6.2 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 7.5% ±4.6 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 18.2% ±3.9 pts | 35.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 18.9% ±5.6 pts | 45.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.2% ±1.3 pts | 2.9% | – |
| With a disability | 4.4% ±1.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.9% ±1.8 pts | 3.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.0% ±2.5 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 75.0% ±5.5 pts | 53.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 43.4% ±6.2 pts | 24.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.0% ±4.4 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2% ±1.8 pts | 1.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Emerald Lake Hills earn?
Half of Emerald Lake Hills's 1,538 households earn less than $250,000 or more a year (), against $158,855 in San Mateo County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $250,000 or more in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart.
| Measure | Emerald Lake Hills | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $250,000 or more | $158,855 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $440,044 ±$47,009 | $231,822 | – |
| Per capita income | $159,629 ±$17,433 | $84,288 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.6% ±3.9 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±4.2 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 99.4% ±0.9 pts | 97.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 99.0% ±1.1 pts | 95.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Emerald Lake Hills?
Owners occupy 90.8% of Emerald Lake Hills's occupied homes and renters 9.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $2,000,000 or more by its owner (). The median renter pays $3,500 or more a month including utilities.
| Measure | Emerald Lake Hills | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $2,000,000 or more | $1,559,600 | −$448,095 |
| Median gross rent | $3,500 or more | $2,922 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 12.4% ±19.7 pts | 40.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $4,000 or more | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 90.8% ±3.8 pts | 58.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 9.2% ±3.8 pts | 41.5% | – |
| Housing units | 1,572 ±171 | 287,184 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±3.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±25.6 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 99.4% ±1.0 pts | 55.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.7 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.1% ±2.3 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 9.3% ±4.7 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 5.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Emerald Lake Hills work and get to work?
49.9% of Emerald Lake Hills's workers drive alone and 40.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.0 minutes.
| Measure | Emerald Lake Hills | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.6% ±6.0 pts | 67.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 49.9% ±8.3 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 2.3% ±2.1 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.3% ±1.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Walked | 3.6% ±2.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 40.9% ±8.2 pts | 24.3% | +30.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.0 min ±2.6 | 26.4 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Emerald Lake Hills?
1 census tract lies mostly in Emerald Lake Hills, and 2 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6097San Mateo County | 4,608 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 6111San Mateo County | 6,347 | $185,875 |
| Tract 6098San Mateo County | 4,491 | $250,000 or more |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Emerald Lake Hills) · Census block assignment files
How does Emerald Lake Hills compare with other places in California?
Emerald Lake Hills ranks 1st of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 695th | 1,076 |
| Residents per square mile | 346th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 1st | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 14th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 1st | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 1st | 987 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54th | 988 |
| Median age | 300th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 82nd | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 26th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 587th | 1,069 |
Emerald Lake Hills's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Emerald Lake Hills with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Emerald Lake Hills?
18 of the 57 figures for Emerald Lake Hills on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Emerald Lake Hills are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.