Schools: PAUSD
Palo Alto High and Henry M. Gunn. Most homes walk to an elementary, middle, and high. That is the $3.5M story.
Palo Alto Neighborhood Data — PAUSD, Creek Flood & vs East PA
Palo Alto neighborhood data: PAUSD schools, San Francisquito Creek flood, $3.5M median — not East Palo Alto. Free address report.
Palo Alto’s median single-family price is about $3.5M — Old Palo Alto, Crescent Park, and Professorville often $5M+. The school story is PAUSD (Palo Alto High and Gunn). Flood is creek-and-bay, not a citywide label: San Francisquito Creek, Matadero, Adobe, and blocks east of 101. Palo Alto and East Palo Alto are different cities, counties, school districts, and crime profiles. Do not mix them.
What to check first
Flood: Creeks + 101 east
San Francisquito, Crescent Park near the creek, Bay-side east of 101, Matadero and Adobe pockets — FEMA A or shaded X.
Price: ~$3.5M median
Among the highest in the U.S. Barron Park and Charleston Meadows are the relatively lower entries.
Not EPA: Separate city
East Palo Alto is San Mateo County, ~$850K median, Ravenswood schools. Different crime and flood profile across the creek.
Before an offer: confirm the city is Palo Alto (not EPA), PAUSD assignment, and creek/FEMA if you are near San Francisquito or east of 101.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home price in Palo Alto?
Orientation median on this page (not a live MLS quote) for Palo Alto is approximately $3,500,000 — among the highest in the United States. Old Palo Alto, Crescent Park, and Professorville frequently exceed $5M; Barron Park and Charleston Meadows offer relatively more accessible entry points.
Why are Palo Alto schools so well-known?
Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) — including Palo Alto High and Henry M. Gunn High — consistently ranks among the top public school districts in California. Most homes are within walking distance of an elementary, middle, and high school, and student outcomes (test scores, college admissions) are exceptional.
Are there flood risk areas in Palo Alto?
Yes. Areas adjacent to San Francisquito Creek, parts of Crescent Park near the creek, the Bay-side blocks east of Highway 101 (East Palo Alto and Baylands edge), and pockets along Matadero and Adobe Creeks can fall into FEMA Zone A or shaded Zone X. Most of the central residential city is in low-risk Zone X.
Is Palo Alto a good investment market?
Historically yes — Palo Alto has one of the strongest long-term appreciation track records in the country, supported by Stanford, the Sand Hill Road venture-capital corridor, and major tech employers. Volatility tracks the tech IPO and rate cycles, and entry prices limit cash-flow rental investing.
What is the difference between Palo Alto and East Palo Alto?
They are entirely separate cities. Palo Alto sits on the Santa Clara County side of San Francisquito Creek with a median home price of $3.5M+ and the PAUSD school district. East Palo Alto, across the creek in San Mateo County, has a median price near $850K, different schools (Ravenswood City School District), and a markedly different demographic and crime profile.