City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Los Gatos, CA

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

32,773
Residents
$207,891
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$4,214
Median rent (state)

Los Gatos - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Los Gatos places in the 98th percentile for household income and the 43rd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

98th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
100th
percentile, median rent
43rd
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 Gatos, CA

32,773 people live in Los Gatos, California - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $207,891 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.8%. Los Gatos's housing stock carries a median value of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 45.2 years. 74.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 11 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 62% from five years earlier. Los Gatos reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1580.4 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 59.7°F with 22.2 inches of precipitation per year.

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). The average commute for Los Gatos workers runs 19.5 minutes, with 60.5% driving alone and 29.8% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 97.8 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

32,773 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$207,891 /yr

Poverty 2.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Los Gatos compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 98% higher than other cities
Home value 99% pricier than other cities
Median rent 100% pricier than other cities
Safety 43% 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, Los Gatos ranks #162 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

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

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Los Gatos's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Los Gatos ranks #1 - the 97th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Los Gatos only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#62 of 1,338
95th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 1,458
97th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1 of 1,343
95th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#1,048 of 1,450
27th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#61 of 1,458
96th 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.

98thIncome percentile
43rdSafety percentile

98th percentile nationally for median household income · 43rd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Los Gatos's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Los Gatos'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
Los Gatos'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 Gatos'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 Gatos $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 Gatos, CA Los Gatos, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Los Gatos, 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 Gatos, CA median $207,891/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 Gatos, 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 Gatos, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 74.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.3%

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

Population
32,773
Median Income
$207,891
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
45.2
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Labor force participation
58.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
74.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1580.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
147.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1432.7
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
59.7°F
Annual Precipitation
22.2"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"

Schools

Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
32,000 residents32,500 residents33,000 residents33,500 residents34,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 33,413 residents 32,576 residents ▼ -2.5%
Los Gatos's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
11
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 29
2020 104
2021 139
2022 94
2023 45
2024 11

Permit volume decreased 62% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.5 minutes
Drive Alone
60.5%
Carpool
4.5%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
29.8%
Other
2.1%

Based on 14,969 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 Gatos 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

Menlo Park
32,775 people
Desert Hot Springs
32,786 people
Bell
32,830 people
Lathrop
32,696 people
Goleta
32,693 people
Dana Point
32,883 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Los Gatos's 32,773 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Houma, LA
32,760 people
Brooklyn Center, MN
32,811 people
St. Charles, IL
32,733 people
Andover, MN
32,825 people
Pasadena, MD
32,717 people
Savage, MN
32,706 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Los Gatos's $207,891 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ridgebury, CT
$207,721 median income
Opal, VA
$207,708 median income
Tenafly, NJ
$208,088 median income
Dellwood, MN
$208,125 median income
Rivergrove, OR
$208,158 median income
Griggstown, NJ
$207,542 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Los Gatos, 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 Gatos, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.2% 19.5% 8.7% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.6% White 67.2% Black or African American 1.6% Asian 19.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 8.7% 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 Gatos 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 Gatos (this city) 32,773 $207,891
Menlo Park 32,775 $206,588
Desert Hot Springs 32,786 $50,349
Bell 32,830 $60,641
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Los Gatos, CA?

What is the population of Los Gatos, CA? +

Los Gatos, CA has a population of 32,773 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Los Gatos is $207,891 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Los Gatos? +

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

Los Gatos has a total crime rate of 1580.4 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 Gatos, CA? +

Homes in Los Gatos carry a median value of $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Los Gatos? +

The average annual temperature in Los Gatos runs 59.7°F, 22.2 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.