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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Los Altos, CA Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q4 2023. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Los Altos, CA Housing Market Trends

With a population of 30,424, 10,887 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $3,947,938, Los Altos house prices are not only among the most expensive in California, Los Altos real estate also is some of the most expensive in all of America.

Los Altos is a city of large, single-family homes. In fact, there is a higher proportion of four, five or more bedroom homes in Los Altos than is found in 98% of the communities in America.

Owner-occupied, three and four bedroom dwellings, primarily in single-family detached homes are the most prevalent type of housing you will see in Los Altos. Owner-occupied housing accounts for 80.70% of Los Altos's homes, and 68.93% have either three or four bedrooms, which is average sized relative to America.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. Los Altos's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 62.05% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in Los Altos include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 20.86%) and housing constructed between 2000 and later ( 14.97%). There's also some housing in Los Altos built before 1939 ( 2.12%).

Los Altos Home Appreciation Rates

Real estate appreciation rates in Los Altos's have tracked to near the national average over the last then years, with the annual appreciation rate averaging 6.03% during the period.

Over the last year, Los Altos appreciation rates have trailed the rest of the nation. In the last twelve months, Los Altos's appreciation rate has been 4.53%, which is lower than appreciation rates in most communities in America. In the latest quarter, NeighborhoodScout's data show that house appreciation rates in Los Altos were at 0.87%, which equates to an annual appreciation rate of 3.54%.

Relative to California, our data show that Los Altos's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 90% of the other cities and towns in California.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Los Altos differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Los Altos - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Los Altos real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$3,947,938

Los Altos, CA Home Prices
> $884,000
$663,001 - $884,000
$442,001 - $663,000
$354,001 - $442,000
$265,001 - $354,000
$177,001 - $265,000
$88,001 - $177,000
$44,001 - $88,000
$0 - $44,000
96.0%
96.0%
1.4%
1.4%
0.9%
0.9%
0.5%
0.5%
0.2%
0.2%
0.2%
0.2%
0.2%
0.2%
0.0%
0.0%
0.6%
0.6%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
Very High

for California

Very High

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

10,887

Los Altos Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$5,443 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
80.7%
80.7%
19.3%
19.3%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
6.8%
6.8%
93.2%
93.2%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
15.0%
15.0%
20.9%
20.9%
62.1%
62.1%
2.1%
2.1%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
81.3%
81.3%
5.7%
5.7%
1.7%
1.7%
11.3%
11.3%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
1.2%
1.2%
4.6%
4.6%
12.5%
12.5%
30.4%
30.4%
38.5%
38.5%
12.8%
12.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes