PlainCities

Census tract · Santa Clara County

Census Tract 5109, Santa Clara County, California

Census Tract 5109, GEOID 06085510900, in Santa Clara County, California, entirely within Palo Alto. 4,431 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±697); the 2020 Census counted 5,404.

Residents, 2020-2024

4,431

±697 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,404

Median household income

$183,536

±$40,044 (90% margin)
Santa Clara County: $164,281

Median home value

$2,000,000 or more

The survey's top or bottom value; no margin is published
Santa Clara County: $1,490,600

Median gross rent

$3,390

±$548 (90% margin)
Santa Clara County: $2,857

Where is Census Tract 5109?

Census Tract 5109 is one of 408 census tracts in Santa Clara County, California. It covers 0.64 square miles of land, 8,457 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 06085510900, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).

Places Census Tract 5109 lies in (share of its 2020 census blocks)
PlaceShare of the tract
Palo Alto100%
Census Tract 5109 (marked with a dot) in Santa Clara County, California. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
51075108.015108.0351105114 5109 0.5 mi
Census Tract 5109 (shaded) and the tracts that border it, numbered. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024 cartographic boundary file, 1:500,000.

5 census tracts border Census Tract 5109: Tract 5107 ($182,266), Tract 5108.01 ($250,000 or more), Tract 5108.03 ($250,000 or more), Tract 5110 ($250,000 or more) and Tract 5114 ($250,000 or more). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.

Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.

Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files

How many people live in Census Tract 5109?

The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 5109's population at 4,431 (±697) in 1,863 households; the 2020 Census counted 5,404 residents and 2,101 housing units.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 5109Palo AltoSanta Clara CountyCalifornia
Total population4,431±69767,2371,902,04739,287,377
Households1,863±24426,021659,35313,548,091
Average household size2.38±0.232.562.822.84
Housing units2,193±22029,241698,83714,644,735

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Census Tract 5109?

The median resident of Census Tract 5109 is 47.4 years old; 20.3% are under 18 and 19.3% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 43.4%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 40.2%. 34.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin, education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasureTract 5109Palo AltoSanta Clara CountyCalifornia
Median age47.4±9.443.638.137.9
Under 18 years20.3%±5.7 pts22.2%20.5%22.0%
65 years and over19.3%±7.7 pts19.9%14.8%15.7%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)6.3%±5.2 pts7.9%25.0%40.2%
White alone, not Hispanic43.4%±8.9 pts45.0%27.2%33.8%
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic1.5%±1.7 pts1.8%2.2%5.2%
Asian alone, not Hispanic40.2%±10.2 pts38.1%40.3%15.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts0.2%0.2%0.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts0.1%0.4%0.3%
Two or more races, not Hispanic8.6%±4.0 pts6.5%4.2%4.4%
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±1.0 pts0.4%0.6%0.6%
Born outside the United States34.4%±8.1 pts37.0%41.5%27.0%
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)47.5%±10.4 pts42.3%55.2%44.4%
Civilian veterans (age 18+)1.1%±1.1 pts2.2%2.6%4.3%
With a disability3.6%±1.9 pts7.8%9.0%11.6%
No health insurance coverage7.5%±5.8 pts1.9%3.9%6.6%
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)98.7%±1.9 pts96.8%89.3%84.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)74.7%±11.1 pts82.3%56.5%37.1%
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)50.0%±11.0 pts55.0%28.3%14.4%
Lived in the same house a year earlier85.2%±6.9 pts85.7%86.0%89.2%

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 Census Tract 5109 earn?

Half of the 1,863 households in Census Tract 5109 earn less than $183,536 a year (±$40,044), against $164,281 across Santa Clara County: 157th highest of the county's 404 tracts with a reliable estimate.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 5109Palo AltoSanta Clara CountyCalifornia
Median household income$183,536±$40,044$231,101$164,281$99,122
Mean household income$286,671±$45,883$315,665$227,007$140,436
Per capita income$123,970±$18,261$123,939$80,312$49,513
People below the poverty line2.1%±1.8 pts6.0%7.1%12.0%
Children under 18 below the poverty line0.0%±4.6 pts7.1%7.0%15.0%
Households receiving SNAP1.0%±1.5 pts3.0%6.6%12.4%
Households with a computer97.2%±3.4 pts98.5%98.0%96.9%
Households with a broadband subscription96.3%±3.7 pts96.1%95.6%93.5%

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 Census Tract 5109?

Owners occupy 64.5% of Census Tract 5109's occupied homes and renters 35.5%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $2,000,000 or more by its owner (). The median renter pays $3,390 a month including utilities, and 56.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 5109Palo AltoSanta Clara CountyCalifornia
Median home value (owner-occupied)$2,000,000 or more$2,000,000 or more$1,490,600$734,700
Median gross rent$3,390±$548$3,484$2,857$2,036
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent56.5%±13.8 pts35.0%36.4%46.0%
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$4,000 or more$4,000 or more$4,000 or more$2,946
Owner-occupied homes64.5%±8.5 pts54.6%55.1%55.9%
Renter-occupied homes35.5%±8.5 pts45.4%44.9%44.1%
Housing units2,193±22029,241698,83714,644,735
Single-family detached homes68.9%±8.2 pts57.5%50.7%57.0%
Mobile homes0.0%±1.9 pts0.5%2.8%3.5%
Built 2020 or later0.6%±1.0 pts1.1%1.5%1.3%
Built 2010 to 201913.4%±6.6 pts6.6%9.1%6.5%
Built 1939 or earlier1.7%±1.5 pts13.3%4.7%8.9%
Households with no vehicle13.7%±8.2 pts8.5%6.0%7.1%

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 Census Tract 5109 get to work?

55.5% of Census Tract 5109's workers drive alone and 32.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.8 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasureTract 5109Palo AltoSanta Clara CountyCalifornia
In the labor force (age 16+)63.3%±9.8 pts62.3%67.4%63.8%
Unemployment rate3.7%±3.1 pts3.9%4.9%6.6%
Drove alone to work55.5%±9.8 pts44.2%59.9%65.7%
Carpooled4.4%±3.5 pts4.6%9.0%9.5%
Public transportation1.4%±1.6 pts2.0%2.3%2.9%
Walked0.6%±1.2 pts4.6%2.1%2.4%
Worked from home32.2%±9.6 pts35.4%23.9%17.2%
Mean travel time to work20.8 min±3.321.4 min26.2 min28.7 min

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

How does Census Tract 5109 compare with the other tracts in Santa Clara County?

Among Santa Clara County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 5109 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).

Census Tract 5109's rank among the tracts of Santa Clara County and of Palo Alto
MeasureIn Santa Clara CountyIn Palo Alto
Population208th of 4088th of 16
Residents per square mile195th of 4085th of 16
Median household income157th of 40412th of 16
Per capita income42nd of 4089th of 16
Median home value1st of 3951st of 16
Median gross rent125th of 39411th of 15
Bachelor's degree or higher99th of 40816th of 16
Median age41st of 4086th of 16
Owner-occupied share174th of 3978th of 16

The tracts next to it on Santa Clara County's income ladder

Median household income, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
TractRankMedian household incomeResidents
Tract 5125.09154th$184,500±$63,441 · within the margin of this tract7,855
Tract 5120.37155th$184,333±$11,347 · within the margin of this tract2,989
Tract 5043.20156th$183,571±$34,266 · within the margin of this tract2,990
Tract 5109157th$183,536±$40,0444,431
Tract 5027.04158th$183,214±$33,326 · within the margin of this tract4,265
Tract 5063.02159th$182,908±$23,880 · within the margin of this tract6,357
Tract 5043.15160th$182,784±$25,695 · within the margin of this tract6,475

"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.

Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed

How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 5109?

3 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 5109 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.

A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). 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 · Check it at data.census.gov

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections