Distinctive in every way, Palo Alto offers its business community a diverse and exciting environment in which to work and live. The following statistics summarize basic information about Palo Alto, its businesses and residents.
Download the City of Palo Alto Community Profile, prepared by the City's Planning Division July 2005.
Business Statistics:
Number of Jobs in Palo Alto - 98,000
Unemployment Rate - 3.2% (2008)
Office Vacancy Rate - 7.24% (2008)
Office Lease Rate Range - $2.86 – $5.17(2008)
R&D Vacancy Rate - 4.43% (2008)
R&D Lease Rate Range - $2.50 – $3.74 (2008)
Retail Space Rate Range - $1.50 – $6.00 (2009)
Commercial and Industrial Space - 27.3 million square feet
General Statistics:
Population - 63,367
Mean Household Income - $140,900*
Incorporated Area - 25.98 square miles
Form of Government - Charter City, adopted July 1, 1950
Type of Governance - Council-Manager
Government Expenditures per Capita - $1,693 (2000)
Local Amenities - 35 parks (comprising 170 acres and 3,731 acres of open space), tennis courts (52), community centers (4), theaters (3), swimming pools (3), nature centers (2), athletic center, golf course, cultural center, junior museum and zoo, urban parks and street medians including Foothills Park, Baylands Preserve, Mitchell Park and the Stanford/Palo Alto Community Playing Fields.
City-Owned and Operated Utilities - Water, wastewater treatment, electricity, gas, refuse, storm drain and fiber optic ring
Housing - Number of units: 25,216 (Census 2000 SF-1); Total rental housing dwelling units: 10,796 (Census 2000 SF-1); Median value: $880,000 (Jan. 2001)
Percent of Palo Altans with Internet Access - 96% (1999)
Education - 77% BA or Higher (81.1 % if includes Associates Degree)
School Enrollment in Palo Alto Unified School District:10,000 (12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools)
Miles of Streets - 200
Miles of Bicycle Lanes - 26
Number of Libraries and Annual Circulation - 5 libraries with a circulation of 1,542,116 (2008)