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Atherton, CA

Photo: Wikipedia

Atherton, CA

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 55
Population7,021
Foreign Born8.9%
Population Density1,400people per mi²
Median Age49.0 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

464/100

364% above national average

F

The Real Cost of Living in Atherton, California

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $70k$133k
Comfortable $389k$571k
Luxury $452k+$700k+
Elite (Top 5%) $1.1M+$1.7M+
Affordability Ratio

44%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A-
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean79%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
8
Negative
32

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

6.4mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

2.2mi

Airport

SFO — San Francisco International

14.8mi

Post Office

USPS — Mountain View, CA

8.1mi

Critical Amenities

Golf2Nearest 9.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 13.8 mi
Marina8Nearest 2.6 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 13.7 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 5.9 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
A+
Elite

An elite concentration of wealth — high incomes, strong home values, advanced degrees, and minimal poverty signal a top-tier socioeconomic profile.

Median HHI
>$250k
233% above US avg

Census doesn't track above $250K

Est. Avg Net Worth
$3.4M
425% above US avg
College Educated
85.9%
145% above US avg
WFH
39.6%
177% above US avg
Homeownership
87.4%
34% above US avg
Median Home
>$2M
609% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
A
Very Safe

Lower crime rates than 87% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
8.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+248.0%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+254.0%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.14 / 1k Residents80% below state avg
Aggravated Assault
0.57 / 1k Residents75% below state avg

Property Crime

5yr+242.1%
Burglary
2.72 / 1k Residents26% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
5.01 / 1k Residents46% below state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.14 / 1k Residents94% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+26Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Atherton, California
Dem Rep
20%30%40%50%60%70%80%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B-
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
F
Poor13.5% of income
Property Rights
D
WeakIJ Grade D
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Importer (33% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
D+
RestrictedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season365 days365 frost-free
Annual Rainfall18.8"
Elevation66 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
D-
Vulnerable

Multiple tactical vulnerabilities. Population density, target proximity, or disaster risk are likely compounding. A retreat property and exit planning is required.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
F
Poor19 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,400/sq mi
Fallout Danger
C
Weak17 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake
Border / Coast
D
Poorborder 439 mi · coast 7.7 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$740.0M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySan Jose1.0M people are 19 mi away
Nearest Major AirportSFO15 mi away
Distance to State Capital86 miSacramento, CA
Nearest Prison2.6 mi5 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-16T03:08:55.000Z

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