What are home prices like in Palo Alto CA?

Palo Alto's median home price reached $3.8 million in 2025, up 5.1% from 2024 and setting a new annual record. Old Palo Alto and Crescent Park are the most expensive neighborhoods with median sales prices of $6 million. South Palo Alto and Barron Park offer the city's more accessible entry points. Homes average 104% of list price with about 59% of single-family homes selling over asking.

What neighborhoods are in Palo Alto CA?

Palo Alto has 13 defined neighborhoods. Old Palo Alto and Crescent Park are the most prestigious, each with median sales prices of $6 million. Professorville near downtown has a historic character. Midtown and Barron Park offer more accessible pricing. College Terrace borders Stanford. South Palo Alto along El Camino Real is the city's most affordable sector. Each neighborhood has a distinct character and price point.

What school district serves Palo Alto CA?

Palo Alto is served by Palo Alto Unified School District, consistently one of California's highest-rated K-12 public school systems. Palo Alto High School and Henry M. Gunn High School are both nationally recognized. PAUSD is a single unified district covering the entire city, which simplifies the school assignment process compared to neighboring cities with multiple overlapping districts.

How does Palo Alto's luxury market perform?

Palo Alto's luxury segment has strengthened significantly. In 2025, 25 homes sold above $8 million — a new record, more than double the 10-year average. Old Palo Alto accounted for six of those transactions. Crescent Park and Old Palo Alto both reached median sales prices of $6 million for the first time in 2025, reflecting continued strength at the upper tier of the market.

How does Palo Alto compare to Menlo Park and Atherton?

Palo Alto's primary advantage over Menlo Park is PAUSD — a single unified school district versus Menlo Park's multi-district complexity. Palo Alto generally commands higher median prices than Menlo Park but lower prices than Atherton, which offers larger lots and complete residential privacy. Palo Alto has more housing variety, a stronger downtown, and more inventory than either neighbor.

Palo Alto CA Homes for Sale | Stanford

$1,998,000

146 Hemlock Court, Palo Alto

3 Beds 2 Baths 1,777 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82059599

Intero Real Estate Services

$1,998,000

↓ $102,000

4271 Ponce Drive, Palo Alto

3 Beds 2 Baths 1,570 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82045112

Derrick D'acolatse Legacy Living Realty

$1,995,000

443 College Ave, Palo Alto

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,015 SqFt Residential MLS® # 41144017

Doris Cordova Summit Realty

$1,995,000

443 College Ave, Palo Alto

4 Beds 4 Baths 2,015 SqFt Residential MLS® # 41143948

Doris Cordova Summit Realty

$1,988,000

2861 Josephine Lane, Palo Alto

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,770 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82057856

Anna Hou Summerhill Brokerage, Inc.

$1,890,000

4008 Villa Vista, Palo Alto

3 Beds 2 Baths 1,451 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82060316

Wanda Chen Apex Real Estate Investments

$1,888,000

4245 Rickeys Way D, Palo Alto

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,406 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82050596

Anna Park Compass

$1,888,000

↓ $412,000

1751 Alma Street, Palo Alto

0 Beds 0 Baths 1,716 SqFt Residential Income MLS® # ML82053765

Adam S. Levin Marcus & Millichap

$1,800,000

101 Alma Street 301, Palo Alto

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,457 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82051763

Xiaozhu Kang Coldwell Banker Realty

$1,798,000

1129 Esther Court, Palo Alto

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,436 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82041526

Natalie Viviani Summerhill Brokerage, Inc.

$1,798,000

1129 Esther Court, Palo Alto

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,436 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82053957

Natalie Viviani Summerhill Brokerage, Inc.

$1,798,000

358 Fernando Avenue, Palo Alto

2 Beds 2 Baths 903 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82057417

Alex Wang Rainmaker Real Estate

New

$1,798,000

444 San Antonio Road 2d, Palo Alto

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,826 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82059134

Julie Tsai Law Compass

$1,700,000

101 Alma Street 806, Palo Alto

2 Beds 2 Baths 1,343 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82057529

Jessie Li Intero Real Estate Services

$1,698,000

↓ $20,000

2859 Josephine Lane, Palo Alto

3 Beds 3 Baths 1,436 SqFt Residential MLS® # ML82048099

Anna Hou Summerhill Brokerage, Inc.

Palo Alto Real Estate

$1,998,000

146 Hemlock Court, Palo Alto

$1,998,000

4271 Ponce Drive, Palo Alto

$1,995,000

443 College Ave, Palo Alto

$1,995,000

443 College Ave, Palo Alto

$1,988,000

2861 Josephine Lane, Palo Alto

$1,890,000

4008 Villa Vista, Palo Alto

$1,888,000

4245 Rickeys Way D, Palo Alto

$1,888,000

1751 Alma Street, Palo Alto

$1,800,000

101 Alma Street 301, Palo Alto

$1,798,000

1129 Esther Court, Palo Alto

$1,798,000

1129 Esther Court, Palo Alto

$1,798,000

358 Fernando Avenue, Palo Alto

$1,798,000

444 San Antonio Road 2d, Palo Alto

$1,700,000

101 Alma Street 806, Palo Alto

$1,698,000

2859 Josephine Lane, Palo Alto