$5,650,000
400 E Edith Ave
Los Altos, CA 94022
Palo Alto vs. Los Altos
Schools and prices, side by side
The short answer
July to September 2026. Updated monthly.
$4.2MPalo Alto single-family median
$4.91MLos Altos single-family median
10Palo Alto median days on market
8Los Altos median days on market
Single-family homes in Los Altos sold for a median of $4,906,044 from July to September 2026, $707,718 (16.9%) more than in Palo Alto ($4,198,326). Los Altos had the higher median in every one of the last 25 three-month periods. Price per square foot is much closer, $2,190 in Palo Alto and $2,152 in Los Altos, so most of the gap comes from larger homes, not a higher price per foot. The median house sold in 10 days in Palo Alto and 8 days in Los Altos.
Palo Alto and Los Altos are two of the most expensive cities in Silicon Valley. Both sell mostly single-family homes, and both sell most of them above the list price.
The differences are lot size, school structure, and city services. Los Altos lots are often 10,000 square feet or more. Palo Alto lots are smaller, often around 6,000 square feet, and the city has its own utilities, two Caltrain stations, and one K-12 school district.
Weighing both?
Tell Sean what you need, and he will send homes in both. Or call or text 650-400-0686.
By the numbers
Real sales data, side by side.
Single-family homes, July to September 2026
| Measure | Palo Alto | Los Altos | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $4,198,326 | $4,906,044 | $707,718 more in Los Altos (16.9%) |
| Change from a year earlier | +6.0% | +7.0% | 1.0 point higher in Los Altos |
| Median price per sq ft | $2,190 | $2,152 | $38 more in Palo Alto (1.8%) |
| Homes sold | 103 | 60 | 43 more in Palo Alto |
| Median days on market | 10 | 8 | 2 days longer in Palo Alto |
| Average sale-to-list ratio | 109.5% | 108.0% | 1.5 points higher in Palo Alto |
| Sold above list price | 69.3% | 69.5% | 0.2 points higher in Los Altos |
| Homes for sale | 56 | 25 | 31 more in Palo Alto |
| Months of supply | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.4 more in Palo Alto |
Median price by home type, July to September 2026
| Home type | Palo Alto median | Palo Alto sales | Los Altos median | Los Altos sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family | $4,198,326 | 103 | $4,906,044 | 60 |
| Townhouse | $1,743,021 | 9 | $1,788,021 | 3 |
| Condo | $1,396,082 | 20 | $1,549,841 | 12 |
Some home types had fewer than 15 sales in this period. With so few sales, one home can move the median a lot.
Single-family median price, last two years
Each point covers three months of sales ending that month.
- Palo Alto
- Los Altos
Show the numbers
| Three months ending | Palo Alto | Los Altos |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $4,198,326 | $4,906,044 |
| August 2026 | $4,197,500 | $4,824,000 |
| July 2026 | $4,267,000 | $4,680,500 |
| June 2026 | $4,125,000 | $4,920,000 |
| May 2026 | $4,140,000 | $4,850,000 |
| April 2026 | $4,175,000 | $5,250,000 |
| March 2026 | $4,120,000 | $5,081,500 |
| February 2026 | $4,151,000 | $5,335,000 |
| January 2026 | $3,700,000 | $4,680,000 |
| December 2025 | $3,779,000 | $5,025,000 |
| November 2025 | $3,850,000 | $5,000,000 |
| October 2025 | $3,760,000 | $4,858,500 |
| September 2025 | $3,962,500 | $4,586,000 |
| August 2025 | $3,700,000 | $4,638,500 |
| July 2025 | $3,900,000 | $4,700,000 |
| June 2025 | $3,700,000 | $4,951,500 |
| May 2025 | $4,000,000 | $5,232,500 |
| April 2025 | $3,837,500 | $5,400,000 |
| March 2025 | $4,280,000 | $5,845,000 |
| February 2025 | $3,827,500 | $5,100,000 |
| January 2025 | $3,777,500 | $4,910,000 |
| December 2024 | $3,802,500 | $4,500,000 |
| November 2024 | $3,801,250 | $4,510,000 |
| October 2024 | $3,800,000 | $4,344,000 |
| September 2024 | $3,710,000 | $4,600,000 |
Palo Alto and Los Altos at a glance
| Topic | Palo Alto | Los Altos |
|---|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County | Santa Clara County |
| Population (2020 Census) | 68,572 | 31,625 |
| K-8 school district | Palo Alto Unified School District | Los Altos School District for most addresses. A few areas fall in other districts. |
| High school district | Palo Alto Unified School District | Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District for most addresses |
| Public high schools | Palo Alto High School, Gunn High School | Los Altos High School, Mountain View High School |
| Typical single-family lot | Often 6,000 sq ft or more | Often 10,000 sq ft or more |
| Caltrain stations | University Avenue, California Avenue | None. Nearest are San Antonio and Mountain View. |
| Utilities | City of Palo Alto Utilities: electric, gas, water, and fiber | PG&E for electric and gas, Cal Water for water |
| Downtown | University Avenue and California Avenue | Main Street and State Street |
Palo Alto area: state test results, 2025-26
| District or school | English: Proficient or Advanced | Math: Proficient or Advanced | Students tested (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Unified School District | 81.3% | 79.7% | 5,093 |
| Palo Alto High School | 82.3% | 77.9% | 368 |
| Gunn High School | 82.2% | 80.6% | 353 |
Los Altos area: state test results, 2025-26
| District or school | English: Proficient or Advanced | Math: Proficient or Advanced | Students tested (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Altos School District | 87.4% | 86.8% | 2,210 |
| Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District | 81.6% | 68.1% | 1,026 |
| Los Altos High School | 77.3% | 66.5% | 481 |
| Mountain View High School | 88.3% | 72.6% | 514 |
Source: California Department of Education, CAASPP Smarter Balanced test results, 2025-26 school year. Share of all students tested, in grades 3 to 8 and 11, who scored at the two highest of four levels: Proficient or Advanced. Before 2026 the state called these levels Standard Met and Standard Exceeded. District rows cover every school in the district. Updated each fall when the state posts new results; last updated October 20, 2026. Test results are one measure. See the California School Dashboard for others, and confirm school assignments for any address with the district.
Source: the Redfin Data Center, Palo Alto and Los Altos. Figures cover home sales from July to September 2026, a rolling three-month period, by home type. Updated monthly; last updated October 20, 2026. Population from the 2020 U.S. Census where shown. School districts from the districts. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Confirm school assignments for any address with the district.
Schools
Palo Alto Unified is one district from kindergarten through 12th grade. Its high schools are Palo Alto High and Gunn High.
Los Altos uses two districts. Most addresses are in the Los Altos School District for kindergarten through 8th grade, then the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, which runs Los Altos High and Mountain View High. Bullis Charter School, a public charter, also operates in Los Altos.
A few Los Altos addresses fall outside the Los Altos School District. Confirm the assigned schools for any address with the district, then check test results and other measures on the California School Dashboard.
Test results and other measures for every public school: California School Dashboard.
Homes and lots
Palo Alto has more variety. Homes range from 1900s Craftsman and Victorian houses near downtown to Eichler tracts in south Palo Alto. Some Eichler tracts have a single-story overlay that limits second stories.
Los Altos is mostly 1950s ranch homes on large lots, and many have been replaced with new two-story houses. Older homes on large lots often sell as rebuild opportunities. Heritage trees need a permit to remove.
Because Los Altos lots are larger, compare price per square foot of the house and the lot size, not only the median price.
Getting around
Palo Alto has two Caltrain stations and sits on both US-101 and I-280. Los Altos has no Caltrain station. It sits on I-280 and Foothill Expressway, and US-101 is about 10 minutes north.
Which one fits
Palo Alto may fit if you want
- A lower single-family median: $4,198,326, against $4,906,044
- One school district from kindergarten through 12th grade
- Caltrain within the city and two walkable downtowns
- A wider range of home ages and styles
- More single-family homes to choose from: 103 sold in three months, against 60
Los Altos may fit if you want
- Larger lots and room to rebuild
- A small, quiet downtown on Main Street and State Street
- Los Altos School District and Mountain View-Los Altos high schools
This page compares homes and market data. It is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
Sold by Sean's team
29 homes in Palo Alto and Los Altos, $85,937,880
$3,255,000
2355 Louis Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94303
$5,300,000
198 Pine Ln
Los Altos, CA 94022
$4,438,000
667 Cuesta Dr
Los Altos, CA 94024
$4,500,000
569 Lassen St
Los Altos, CA 94022
$3,100,000
687 Belden Ct
Los Altos, CA 94022
$2,100,000
767 Loma Verde Ave #A
Palo Alto, CA 94303
$3,050,000
44 Bay Tree Ln
Los Altos, CA 94022
$1,846,880
425 Gabilan St
Los Altos, CA 94022
$6,450,000
704 Vera Cruz Ave
Los Altos, CA 94022
$5,100,000
107 Higgins Ave
Los Altos, CA 94022
$4,500,000
658 Spargur Dr
Los Altos, CA 94022
$5,200,000
649 Mills Ave
Los Altos, CA 94022
$2,080,000
216 Marich Way
Los Altos, CA 94022
$3,400,000
27 Sunkist Ln
Los Altos, CA 94022
$4,410,000
281 Embarcadero Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94301
$3,650,000
881 Parma Way
Los Altos, CA 94024
$827,000
110 W Edith Ave #1
Los Altos, CA 94022
$2,300,000
667 N San Antonio Rd
Los Altos, CA 94022
$1,875,000
932 Covington Ct
Los Altos, CA 94024
$1,806,000
1011 Runnymead Ct
Los Altos, CA 94024
$2,100,000
11 Doud Dr
Los Altos, CA 94022
$1,985,000
1055 Eastwood Dr
Los Altos, CA 94024
$1,940,000
1862 Dalehurst Ave
Los Altos, CA 94024
$1,575,000
65 Alvarado Ave
Los Altos, CA 94022
$1,410,000
971 Seena Ave
Los Altos, CA 94024
$1,250,000
1948 Edgewood Dr
Palo Alto, CA 94303
$465,000
324 Grant Ave #324
Palo Alto, CA 94306
$375,000
2512 Birch St #2512
Palo Alto, CA 94306
FAQs
Is Palo Alto or Los Altos more expensive?
Los Altos, for single-family homes. From July to September 2026, the single-family median was $4,906,044 in Los Altos and $4,198,326 in Palo Alto, according to Redfin. Price per square foot was $2,190 in Palo Alto and $2,152 in Los Altos.
Do homes sell faster in Palo Alto or Los Altos?
From July to September 2026, the median single-family home spent 10 days on the market in Palo Alto and 8 days in Los Altos. 69.3% of Palo Alto houses and 69.5% of Los Altos houses sold above list price.
Do Palo Alto and Los Altos share a school district?
No. Palo Alto Unified serves Palo Alto from kindergarten through 12th grade, with Palo Alto High and Gunn High. Most of Los Altos is in the Los Altos School District for kindergarten through 8th grade and the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District for high school, with Los Altos High and Mountain View High. Confirm the schools for any address with the district.
Are lots bigger in Los Altos or Palo Alto?
Los Altos lots are usually larger, often 10,000 square feet or more. Many Palo Alto lots are around 6,000 square feet, with larger lots in Old Palo Alto, Crescent Park, and the Palo Alto Hills.
Who can help me compare homes in Palo Alto and Los Altos?
Sean Rossiter is a Senior Premier Agent at Redfin based in Mountain View, California DRE #02105207. Call or text 650-400-0686 or email sean@seanrossiter.com.
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