What is the average apartment size in Palo Alto?

The average size for a Palo Alto, CA apartment is 783 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Palo Alto?

As of Oct / 2025, the average rent in Palo Alto is $3,100 per month, a 0.1% decrease from last year’s average of $3,103.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Palo Alto?

In Palo Alto, studios rent for $2,193 per month, one-bedroom units average $3,027 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,350 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $4,001 per month

What is the average apartment size in Palo Alto?

The typical apartment in Palo Alto offers about 783 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Palo Alto?

Studio apartments in Palo Alto average 473 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 649 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 960 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,188 sq. ft.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Palo Alto?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Palo Alto are Ventura ($3,699/month), Mayfield ($3,736/month), and Barron Park ($4,549/month), often due to premium locations and high-end amenities.

Palo Alto, CA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Palo Alto?

The typical rent budget in Palo Alto ranges from $2,501 to $3,000 per month, with 53% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Palo Alto?

In Palo Alto, 46% of households rent while 54% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Q: What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Palo Alto?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Palo Alto include East Palo Alto ($2,632/month), Downtown North Palo Alto ($3,210/month), and Midtown Palo Alto ($3,595/month), all below the citywide average of $3,100.

Last updated: November 18, 2025 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Palo Alto is $3,100, a 0.1% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $3,103.

Studio Apartments at $2,193 offer the most budget-friendly option with 473 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 649 square feet for $3,027, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $3,350 offer 960 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,188 sq ft) for $4,001, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Palo Alto, CA

Last updated: November 18, 2025

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$3,100	783 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,193	473 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$3,027	649 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,350	960 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$4,001	1,188 sq. ft.

Palo Alto, CA rent trends

Rental prices in Palo Alto, CA have decreased by 0.1% over the past year. The average rent moved from $3,103 to $3,100.

What's the typical rent budget in Palo Alto, CA?

The largest share of rentals in Palo Alto, CA (53%) fall between $2,501-$3,000 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Palo Alto, CA?

11,939 or 46% of the households in Palo Alto, CA are renter-occupied while 14,115 or 54% are owner-occupied.

Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

Most affordable neighborhoods in Palo Alto?

East Palo Alto $2,632/month

Downtown North Palo Alto $3,210/month

Midtown Palo Alto $3,595/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $3,100/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Palo Alto?

Ventura $3,699/month

Mayfield $3,736/month

Barron Park $4,549/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in Palo Alto, CA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Barron Park	$4,549
Mayfield	$3,736
Ventura	$3,699
Midtown Palo Alto	$3,595
Downtown North Palo Alto	$3,210
East Palo Alto	$2,632

Palo Alto | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Barron Park is 42% higher than in Downtown North Palo Alto

$4,549

Barron Park rent is 47% higher than Palo Alto average

Average Rent $4,549

$3,210

Downtown North Palo Alto rent is 4% higher than Palo Alto average

Average Rent $3,210

How Palo Alto Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Palo Alto	$3,100
Los Angeles	$2,765
East Bay	$2,670
San Francisco	$3,598
San Diego	$2,968
Oakland	$2,635
Long Beach	$2,670
Sacramento	$1,906
San Jose	$3,134
Fresno	$1,622
Tulare	$1,693
Sunnyvale	$3,447
Mountain View, CA	$3,776
Fremont, CA	$2,842
Hayward, CA	$2,432
Santa Clara, CA	$3,511
San Mateo, CA	$3,640
Menlo Park, CA	$4,595
Redwood City, CA	$3,724
San Leandro, CA	$2,327
Alameda, CA	$2,984

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Palo Alto apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.