Palo Alto, CA Housing Market
Median List Price
$2,675,000
Updated August 2026
Today, Palo Alto has 57 homes for sale at a median list price of $2,675,000, typically selling in about 40 days.
Palo Alto Market Analysis
Buyers in Palo Alto, CA are looking at a median list price of $2.7M. Median pricing works out to $1,525 per square foot. Since February, the median price has moved up about 20.6% to $4.2M as of July.
It takes about 9 days for the typical home here to go under contract. Homes move quickly at that pace, which favors sellers and rewards buyers who come prepared. Palo Alto, CA has 57 active listings on the market right now. 36 new listings came on the market in the last 30 days.
Pricing spreads from a $1.7M median for two bedroom homes to $5.3M for five bedroom homes. Most of what is for sale here is single family homes, about 56.1% of the mix, with condos accounting for another 22.8%. The area spans the 94306, 94301, and 94303 ZIP codes.
Palo Alto Rental Market
Renters in Palo Alto, CA are looking at a median asking rent of $7,500. Since February, the median rent has moved up about 219.4% to $11,500 as of July. Palo Alto, CA has 13 active rental listings on the market right now.
Palo Alto Market Pulse
Topfind Market Read
Sellers hold the edge right now. Sale prices are up 29% over the last six months, though still 5% below a year ago, and there is only 2.6 months of supply. Sellers can price with confidence, while buyers should arrive pre-approved and ready to decide quickly.
Median Home Price
$2.67M
↓ 5% over the past yearChart shows the median closed sale price by month
Months of Supply
Estimated time to sell all listings at the current sales pace
2.6 months of supply
Tight Supply57 active listings against the current sales pace works out to about 2.6 months of supply.
What this means for buyers
Inventory is tight relative to how many homes sell each month, so buyers have fewer options and well-priced homes draw competition. Listings typically sell in ~40 days.
Sales Velocity
How fast homes are selling
Homes are selling at a steady pace, so buyers have some time, though competition still exists. Homes are moving 58% faster than six months ago.
Inventory Distribution
Most current listings are under 30 days old, so the mix skews toward fresh inventory.
Housing Tenure in Palo Alto
Homeownership is near the state average, with a balanced mix of owners and renters.
54%
Homeowners
46%
Renters
Homeownership is 1.5 points lower than the California average (55.5%)
26,054 households (2023)
Median Price by Bedroom
Larger homes command significantly higher prices, with sharp increases beyond 3 bedrooms.
Each additional bedroom adds about $3.6M in value on average, with larger homes seeing bigger price jumps.
Largest increase: 5 → 6 bedrooms (+$10.2M)
Price Reductions
8 listings have reduced their price
14% of active listings
Average reduction: 7.4% (~$198K)
Browse Palo Alto Listings
Frequently Asked Questions about the Palo Alto, CA Housing Market
What is the median home price in Palo Alto, CA?
The median list price in Palo Alto is $2,675,000 as of August 2026, based on 57 active listings.
Is Palo Alto a buyer's market or a seller's market?
Palo Alto currently reads as a strong seller's market. Active inventory works out to about 2.6 months of supply at the recent sales pace.
How fast do homes sell in Palo Alto?
Homes that closed in the last 90 days typically went under contract in about 9 days. The average home currently for sale has been on the market for 40 days.
Are home prices in Palo Alto going up or down?
The median sale price in Palo Alto is down about 4.7% compared with a year ago.
How many homes are for sale in Palo Alto, CA?
There are 57 homes for sale in Palo Alto right now, including 13 listed within the last week.
What is the median rent in Palo Alto?
The median asking rent in Palo Alto is $7,500 per month, across 13 active rental listings.