All Countries
Palo Alto, CA
Full City Profile · California · San Mateo County County
3.1
/5.0
B
Good
67,231
Population
2,795/sq mi density
$220,408
Median Income
$121,565 per capita
$2,000,001
Home Value
$3,619,229 Zillow
$3,328
Median Rent
25.9% income on rent
59°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
128
Violent Crime/100K
2,962 property/100K
B
Overall
3.1 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
5.0 / 5.0
$220,408 median income, 2.3% unemployment
D
Affordability
1.5 / 5.0
$2,000,001 home value, $3,328/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
128 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
82.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Palo Alto enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 59°F (15°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 68°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 15.1 inches. The area receives 0.0 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Temperature
48°F Jan (9°C)
68°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 58.5°F |
| 8% above US avg | |
| January Average | 48°F (9°C) |
| July Average | 68°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) |
| Area | 25.8 sq mi (66.7 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,795/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 37.3965°N, 122.1431°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | San Mateo County County |
| Nearest Airport | Norman Y Mineta San Jose International (SJC) 12 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0332 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 12.1 ppb |
| CO (Carbon Monoxide) | 0.34 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 4.5 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 99.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 20.5 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 97.6 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | No Rating |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
| Tsunami | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
5 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 4.5 m (15 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1868 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 4.5 m | 30 | 34 km |
| 1989 | N. CALIFORNIA | Earthquake | 1.0 m | 62 | 46 km |
| 1856 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 0.6 m | — | 18 km |
| 1906 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 0.1 m | — | 46 km |
| 1865 | N. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | — | — | 31 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Clear Lake (183 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Clear Lake | Volcanic field | 1,439 m (4,721 ft) | Unknown | 183 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48°F (9°C) | 3.4 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| February | 53°F (12°C) | 2.8 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 in | |
| April | 58°F (14°C) | 1.3 in | |
| May | 62°F (16°C) | 0.3 in | |
| June | 66°F (19°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 68°F (20°C) | 0.0 in | Driest |
| August | 68°F (20°C) | 0.1 in | Warmest |
| September | 67°F (19°C) | 0.2 in | |
| October | 62°F (17°C) | 1.0 in | |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 in | |
| December | 50°F (10°C) | 2.6 in |
Palo Alto has a seasonal temperature swing of 19°F / from 48°F in January to 68°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 17.2 inches, with January being the wettest month (3.4") and July the driest (0.0").