City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Los Altos Hills, CA

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

8,367
Residents
$250,001
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$3,604
Median rent (state)

Los Altos Hills - the verdict

Los Altos Hills ranks in the 99th percentile for household income and the 89th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

99th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
89th
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: Los Altos Hills, CA

8,367 people live in Los Altos Hills, California - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Los Altos Hills households earn a median of $250,001 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.1%. Los Altos Hills's housing stock carries a median value of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 53.5 years. About 85.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 51.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 43 residential building permits were authorized in Los Altos Hills (Building Boom), up 291% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Los Altos Hills reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 407.8 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $3,604 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

8,367 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$250,001 /yr

Poverty 2.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Los Altos Hills compare to other US cities?

Here's how Los Altos Hills stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 99% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 99% pricier than other cities
Safety 89% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Los Altos Hills ranks #4 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Los Altos Hills against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Los Altos Hills's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Los Altos Hills ranks #12 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Los Altos Hills only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1 of 1,338
98th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#50 of 1,458
91st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1 of 1,343
95th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,108 of 1,450
23rd percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#12 of 1,458
99th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

99thIncome percentile
89thSafety percentile

99th percentile nationally for median household income · 89th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Los Altos Hills's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Los Altos Hills'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 63 Avg. percentile National median
Los Altos Hills'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 Los Altos Hills'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. Los Altos Hills $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 - Los Altos Hills, CA Los Altos Hills, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Los Altos Hills, 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 Los Altos Hills, CA median $250,001/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%
Los Altos Hills, 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 Los Altos Hills, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 85.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 51.7%

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

Population
8,367
Median Income
$250,001
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
53.5
Poverty Rate
2.1%
Labor force participation
51.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
85.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
407.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
49.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
358.4
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
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
8,200 residents8,300 residents8,400 residents8,500 residents8,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 8,490 residents 8,419 residents ▼ -0.8%
Los Altos Hills's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
43
housing units authorized
Single-Family
43
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
5.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 11
2020 1
2021 0
2022 0
2023 28
2024 43

Permit volume increased 291% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
51.2%
Carpool
1.4%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
42.9%
Other
1.5%

Based on 3,570 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 Los Altos Hills sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$3,604/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Good Hope
8,315 people
Guadalupe
8,422 people
Plumas Lake
8,424 people
Firebaugh
8,301 people
August
8,471 people
Alondra Park
8,262 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Los Altos Hills's 8,367 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Westgate, FL
8,369 people
Park City, UT
8,365 people
Menominee, MI
8,370 people
Ogden, NC
8,363 people
Virginia, MN
8,362 people
Orrville, OH
8,361 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Los Altos Hills's $250,001 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Altona, CO
$250,001 median income
Cherry Hills, CO
$250,001 median income
Columbine Valley, CO
$250,001 median income
Upper Witter Gulch, CO
$250,001 median income
Bogus Hill, CT
$250,001 median income
Candlewood Isle, CT
$250,001 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Los Altos Hills, 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 Los Altos Hills, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 52.9% 39.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 52.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 39.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 1.6% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 5.3% 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 Los Altos Hills 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
Los Altos Hills (this city) 8,367 $250,001
Good Hope 8,315 $56,328
Guadalupe 8,422 $71,048
Plumas Lake 8,424 $114,083
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Los Altos Hills, CA?

What is the population of Los Altos Hills, CA? +

The population of Los Altos Hills, CA stands at 8,367 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Los Altos Hills, CA? +

In Los Altos Hills, the typical household earns $250,001 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Los Altos Hills? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Los Altos Hills; 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 Los Altos Hills, CA safe? +

Los Altos Hills has a total crime rate of 407.8 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 Los Altos Hills, CA? +

The median home value in Los Altos Hills is $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

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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.