The typical owner-occupied home in Atherton is worth about $2,000,001, 2.7 times the California median of $734,700 and 6.0 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $10,001 a year in property taxes, about 0.50% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $250,001 a year, so the median home costs 8.0 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 88% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 49% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Atherton at a glance
| Atherton | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $10,001 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.50% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $250,001 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 88% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 49% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $4,001 | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 27.3% | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $3,501 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 18.5% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1960 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 16.5% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 6,993 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Atherton
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Atherton home of $2,000,001 with 20% down costs about $12,430 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $16,083, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $532,713 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 60% of the median Atherton household income of $250,001; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $939,000.
The median rent here is $3,501 a month, so owning the median home costs about $8,929 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $400,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,600,001 |
| Principal and interest | $10,763 |
| Property taxes (0.50% a year) | $833 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $833 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $12,430 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $70,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $1,963,776 |
| Principal and interest | $13,210 |
| Property taxes (0.50% a year) | $833 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $833 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $1,206 |
| Total per month | $16,083 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Atherton
What is the median home value in Atherton?
About $2,000,001 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Atherton?
Homeowners pay a median $10,001 a year, which is about 0.50% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Atherton?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $12,430 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $532,713 a year.
More about Atherton
- Mortgage Refinance in Atherton
- Debt Relief in Atherton
- Home Equity Loans in Atherton
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data