Palo Alto may be home to a powerful community of corporate lawyers, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, but it will always be, first and foremost, a university town. And because it is Stanford, a world-class institution that includes an excellent hospital and clinics, it is a city with true international flavor, cultural sophistication and intellectual tone.
Palo Alto takes pride in its historic neighborhoods and the mature urban forest that shelters them. Residents enjoy top-rated public schools; a library system with a half dozen branches; an impressive 35 parks from the San Francisco Bay to the Santa Cruz Mountains ridgeline; a municipal golf course – even a junior museum and zoo. For entertainment there is the famed vintage Stanford Theatre, which shows films from Hollywood’s golden age; two independent cinema houses; theater groups; an opera company; and orchestral and choral groups.
The dynamic downtown offers a stroll-worthy mix of stores, boutiques and well-rated restaurants. There are two farmers markets, one for each weekend day. Finally, there is the million-square-foot Stanford Shopping Center, filled with upscale goods and gorgeous landscaping.
Population: 60,000
Median resident age: 40.2 years
Average household size: 2.3
Estimated median household income: $93,400
College graduates: 74.4 percent
Parks: 35
