East Palo Alto, CA
Census place 0620956 · pop 29,069
Had the highest per-capita murder rate in the U.S. in 1992, though homicides later fell to zero.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$3,912/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$1,102,600 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
625 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
49.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
15.5% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-1.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1985 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
26.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
26.1% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
17.3% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
24 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
10.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
92.6% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.70% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
30.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
10.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$113,493 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities
0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
27 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
Frequently asked
- Is East Palo Alto, CA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, East Palo Alto scores 41/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is air quality (aqi) and its weakest is rent. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is East Palo Alto, CA?
- East Palo Alto reports 625 violent crimes per 100k and 1985 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is East Palo Alto, CA expensive to live in?
- East Palo Alto has a median home value of $1,102,600 and typical rent around $3,912/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in East Palo Alto, CA?
- Its weakest measured area is rent ($3,912/mo) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is East Palo Alto, CA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is air quality (aqi) (27 AQI) — 96/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.) Fun fact: Had the highest per-capita murder rate in the U.S. in 1992, though homicides later fell to zero.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.