What are the schools like in Alto, CA?

School district data for Alto is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Alto?

The median household income in Alto, CA is $216,495 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.8%.

What is the weather like in Alto, CA?

Alto has an average high temperature of 56.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.2 inches.

Alto, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Alto, CA affordable or expensive?

Alto's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Alto is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $2,000,001 and the median rent is $3,500 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Alto, CA?

Alto has a violent crime rate of 216.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1170.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Alto, CA a Good Place to Live?

Alto is a small town of 659 in California, with a median household income of $216,495 and a 7.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Alto stands out for a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Alto is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Alto city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 118.2

Alto's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Alto costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Alto, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$2,000,001	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$3,500	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$216,495	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Alto's violent crime rate is 216.4 per 100,000 residents — 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

216.4 /100k

Property Crime

1170.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Alto, CA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	55.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	100.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Alto sees average highs of 56.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 36.2 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Alto, CA
Average High — January	56.6°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	36.2"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Alto, CA	National Avg
Population	659	—
Median Age	48.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.2%	18.9%
Asian	4.7%	6.3%
Under 18	20.5%	22.2%
65 and over	9.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Strawberry CDP (Marin County), CA 1 mi Mill Valley, CA 1 mi Corte Madera, CA 2 mi Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA 2 mi Marin City, CA 2 mi

Alto vs Other Cities

Alto, CA vs Strawberry CDP (Marin County), CA Alto, CA vs Mill Valley, CA Alto, CA vs Corte Madera, CA Alto, CA vs Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA Alto, CA vs Marin City, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alto, CA affordable or expensive?

Alto's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Alto roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $2,000,001 and median rent is $3,500/month.

What is the crime rate in Alto, CA?

Alto's violent crime rate is 216.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1170.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Alto?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Alto, CA a good place to live?

Alto, CA has a population of 659, a median household income of $216,495, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Alto?

Alto averages 56.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.2 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Alto?

The population of Alto, California is 659 with a median age of 48.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Alto?

Key numbers for living in Alto: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $2,000,001, median household income $216,495, crime index 56 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Alto side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.