What are the schools like in Stanford, CA?

Stanford is served primarily by Palo Alto Unified. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.1:1.

What is the median household income in Stanford?

The median household income in Stanford, CA is $69,631 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

What is the weather like in Stanford, CA?

Stanford has an average high temperature of 57.8°F in January and 79.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 15.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Stanford, CA affordable or expensive?

Stanford's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Stanford is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $2,000,001 and the median rent is $1,813 per month.

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

Stanford has a violent crime rate of 437.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2451.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Stanford, CA a Good Place to Live?

Stanford is a small city of 17,255 in California, with a median household income of $69,631 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Stanford stands out for solid school ratings (A-), 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 Stanford is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Stanford 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: 112.9

Stanford's overall cost of living index is 112.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Stanford costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Stanford, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$2,000,001	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,813	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	25.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,631	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Stanford's violent crime rate is 437.5 per 100,000 residents — 15% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

437.5 /100k

Property Crime

2451.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Stanford is served primarily by Palo Alto Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Stanford, CA	National Avg
School District	Palo Alto Unified	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	92.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Stanford sees average highs of 57.8°F in January and 79.4°F in July, with 15.1 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Stanford, CA
Average High — January	57.8°F
Average High — July	79.4°F
Annual Precipitation	15.1"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Stanford, CA	National Avg
Population	17,255	—
Median Age	22.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	51.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.0%	18.9%
Asian	25.9%	6.3%
Under 18	6.3%	22.2%
65 and over	3.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

West Menlo Park, CA 2 mi Palo Alto, CA 2 mi Ladera, CA 3 mi Atherton, CA 3 mi East Palo Alto, CA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Stanford

Stanford, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

94305

Stanford vs Other Cities

Stanford, CA vs West Menlo Park, CA Stanford, CA vs Palo Alto, CA Stanford, CA vs Ladera, CA Stanford, CA vs Atherton, CA Stanford, CA vs East Palo Alto, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stanford, CA affordable or expensive?

Stanford's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Stanford roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $2,000,001 and median rent is $1,813/month.

What is the crime rate in Stanford, CA?

Stanford's violent crime rate is 437.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2451.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Stanford?

Public schools in Stanford are operated by Palo Alto Unified. The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.1:1. 92.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Stanford, CA a good place to live?

Stanford, CA has a population of 17,255, a median household income of $69,631, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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 Stanford?

Stanford averages 57.8°F in January and 79.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.1 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Stanford?

Stanford, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 94305.

What is the population of Stanford?

The population of Stanford, California is 17,255 with a median age of 22.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Stanford?

Key numbers for living in Stanford: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $2,000,001, median household income $69,631, crime index 116 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Stanford side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.