City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Woodside, CA

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

5,181
Residents
$250,001
Median income
$2,000,001
Median home
$3,604
Median rent (state)

Woodside - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Woodside lands in the 99th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

99th
percentile, household income
99th
percentile, home value
99th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Woodside, CA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 5,181 residents in Woodside, a small town within California. Woodside 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 2.2%. Woodside's housing stock carries a median value of $2,000,001, and the median resident age is 46.5 years. Educational attainment runs 75.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 58.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 10 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier.

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $3,604 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

5,181 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$250,001 /yr

Poverty 2.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Woodside compare to other US cities?

Woodside measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

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

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Woodside 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 Woodside's strongest outlier among California cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Woodside ranks #54 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Woodside 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
#1,102 of 1,450
24th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#54 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.

99thIncome percentile

99th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Woodside'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. Woodside $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 - Woodside, CA Woodside, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Woodside, 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 Woodside, 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%
Woodside, 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 Woodside, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 75.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.2%

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
5,181
Median Income
$250,001
Median Home Value
$2,000,001
Median Age
46.5
Poverty Rate
2.2%
Labor force participation
58.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
75.9%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,000 residents5,100 residents5,200 residents5,300 residents5,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,297 residents 5,181 residents ▼ -2.2%
Woodside's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
10
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 10
2020 8
2021 8
2022 5
2023 6
2024 10

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
61.2%
Carpool
4.9%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
3.2%
Work from Home
25.5%
Other
3.6%

Based on 2,434 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 Woodside 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

Mayfair
5,173 people
Calistoga
5,159 people
El Granada
5,231 people
Yosemite Lakes
5,095 people
Buellton
5,090 people
Denair
5,085 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Woodside's 5,181 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Deale, MD
5,182 people
Allegan, MI
5,182 people
Breckenridge, TX
5,182 people
Troy Hills, NJ
5,183 people
Elmsford, NY
5,183 people
Shanor-Northvue, PA
5,183 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Woodside'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 - Woodside, 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 Woodside, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 83.9% 8.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.2% White 83.9% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 5.9% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.0% Two or more races 8.3% 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 Woodside 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
Woodside (this city) 5,181 $250,001
Mayfair 5,173 $59,638
Calistoga 5,159 $84,892
El Granada 5,231 $226,384
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Woodside, CA?

What is the population of Woodside, CA? +

Woodside, CA has a population of 5,181 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Woodside runs $250,001, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Woodside? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Woodside; 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.

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

A typical home in Woodside is worth $2,000,001, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.