Town · California
Woodside, California
Woodside, town, in San Mateo County, California. Woodside had 5,181 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.4% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,309 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,126 (±41). GEOID 0686440.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,181
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,309 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,126 ±41
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 Woodside and what county is it in?
Woodside is a town in San Mateo County, California. It covers 11.5 square miles of land, 463 residents per square mile in 2020.
Woodside 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 Woodside, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,181 people lived in Woodside on July 1, 2025, down 2.4% since 2020, a steeper fall than California's (−0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 5,309 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,126 (±41).
| Measure | Woodside | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,126 ±41 | 742,340 | −416 |
| Households | 1,784 ±140 | 264,419 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.87 ±0.22 | 2.76 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,062 ±176 | 287,184 | no clear change |
Woodside's population since 2000
From 5,352 in 2000 to 5,181 in 2025: down 3.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Woodside as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Woodside?
The median resident of Woodside is 46.4 years old; 22.1% are under 18 and 23.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 81.3%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 6.5%. 15.4% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Woodside | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 ±3.8 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 22.1% ±3.5 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 23.6% ±3.5 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 44.8% ±4.1 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6.4% ±2.7 pts | 24.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 81.3% ±4.7 pts | 34.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 6.5% ±3.2 pts | 31.0% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.6% ±3.0 pts | 5.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 15.4% ±4.0 pts | 35.7% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 18.1% ±4.6 pts | 45.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.0% ±1.0 pts | 2.9% | – |
| With a disability | 8.1% ±2.6 pts | 9.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 0.9% ±1.3 pts | 3.8% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.9% ±0.9 pts | 90.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 76.2% ±4.7 pts | 53.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 42.2% ±4.6 pts | 24.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.5% ±3.5 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 5.5% ±2.9 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 Woodside earn?
Half of Woodside's 1,784 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 the median was $250,000 or more in 2024 dollars, so it fell by $57,674 after inflation. 4.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Woodside | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $250,000 or more | $158,855 | −$57,674 |
| Mean household income | $465,902 ±$63,691 | $231,822 | – |
| Per capita income | $163,375 ±$25,747 | $84,288 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.5% ±2.0 pts | 6.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 4.6% ±4.5 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 0.0% ±2.4 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 100.0% ±2.4 pts | 97.7% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 99.0% ±0.9 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 Woodside?
Owners occupy 87.4% of Woodside's occupied homes and renters 12.6%. 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, and 61.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Woodside | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $2,000,000 or more | $1,559,600 | −$461,388 |
| Median gross rent | $3,500 or more | $2,922 | +$754 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 61.6% ±19.1 pts | 40.3% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $4,000 or more | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 87.4% ±4.3 pts | 58.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 12.6% ±4.3 pts | 41.5% | – |
| Housing units | 2,062 ±176 | 287,184 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.3% ±2.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 17.9% ±19.7 pts | 8.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 96.4% ±2.2 pts | 55.3% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±2.0 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.0% ±2.9 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.8% ±5.1 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 0.7% ±0.8 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 many new homes is Woodside building?
Builders took permits for 29 new housing units in Woodside in 2025 (29 in single-family houses), 5.6 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Woodside work and get to work?
57.8% of Woodside's workers drive alone and 30.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.8 minutes.
| Measure | Woodside | San Mateo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 58.9% ±4.5 pts | 67.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% ±2.4 pts | 4.8% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 57.8% ±8.2 pts | 56.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.1% ±4.0 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 2.1% ±2.0 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Walked | 2.4% ±1.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 30.5% ±7.4 pts | 24.3% | +15.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.8 min ±3.0 | 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 Woodside?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Woodside, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $250,000 or more (Tract 6133) to $250,000 or more (Tract 6134).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6133San Mateo County | 2,801 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 6134San Mateo County | 3,077 | $250,000 or more |
| Tract 6113San Mateo County | 4,827 | $229,612 |
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 Woodside) · Census block assignment files
How does Woodside compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Woodside is the 4,789th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 425th-most populous of 483 in California.
Woodside 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, July 2025 estimate | 425th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 281st | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 895th | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 1st | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 13th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 1st | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 1st | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 788th | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48th | 988 |
| Median age | 265th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 131st | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 112th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 456th | 1,069 |
Woodside's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Woodside 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 Woodside?
15 of the 57 figures for Woodside 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 Woodside 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' public schools in Woodside.