Atherton ( ATH-ər-tən) is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. A Silicon Valley bedroom community, Its population was 6,823 as of July 2023 estimates. The town has historically been known for its concentration of high income earners. Atherton had the highest per capita income among American towns (populations between 2,500 and 9,999) in both 1990 and 2019. It regularly ranks as having the highest cost of living in the United States. The town's zip code, 94027, had the highest median home prices in America from 2017 to 2024, in 2023 it was at $7.95 million. Median home price in the area climbed to $9.93 million in 2026.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Atherton ranks

All →

#1Fewest smokers in CA #1Fewest uninsured in CA #7Healthiest in CA All CA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code94027

Area code650

Living in Atherton

Housing in Atherton

$8.52M▲ 15.7% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Atherton home is worth about $8,521,000, up 15.7% in a year, 1015% above the California typical home.

A strong seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market34

Sale-to-list101.2%

Sold in May11

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Atherton

Safety Grade B

Atherton reports less crime per resident than 60% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Atherton 0.7

California 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Atherton 7.9

California 18.2

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Atherton

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Atherton for work: only 4% work in town. The top destinations are San Francisco (11%), Palo Alto (9%) and Menlo Park (8%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

San Francisco

11%

Palo Alto

Menlo Park

San Jose

4%Work in townlive and work in Atherton 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,349Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Atherton →

Health in Atherton

A⁺

Health Grade A+

Healthier than 99% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with California

22better than CA·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 9 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▲ 1▼ 6 close Habits 3▲ 1 close Care 5▲ 2 close Mind 5▲ 0 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

3%Fewer uninsured adultsCA 10.6% · better 3%Fewer older adults who have lost all their teethCA 10.6% · better 10.3%More adults who have had cancerCA 6.4% · worse

Care nearby

Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood CityRedwood City · 2.6 mi · ER

Gardner Packard Children's Health CenterAtherton · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthNo shortage

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Atherton · CMS · HRSAHealth in Atherton →

Natural hazards in Atherton

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 91% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding

8Does Atherton flood?paid flood claims since 1982 2Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Atherton MapAtherton vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Atherton →

Climate in Atherton

Full climate →

Atherton has warm winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 41°, and snow is almost unheard of.

60° / 41°Winter

69° / 46°Spring

79° / 54°Summer

73° / 49°Fall

How much snow does Atherton get?Almost none.Rain & snow →Does it ever freeze?In about 88% of years.Frost →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Atherton →

Schools in Atherton

All Atherton schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Atherton’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 80% of California’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#239Best public schoolsof 574 in CA

DistrictSequoia Union HighSchools7

Laurel ElementaryElementary · Grades K–5 · 658 students Encinal Elementary D-Elementary · Grades K–5 · 604 students Adelante Selby Spanish ImmersionElementary · Grades K–5 · 582 students Las Lomitas Elementary A+Elementary · Grades K–3 · 522 students Menlo-Atherton HighHigh · Grades 9–12 · 2,158 students Sacred Heart Schools AthertonOther · Grades PK–12 · 1,204 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within CA. Ratings are from neighbors.