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Buying a home in Menlo Park, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Menlo Park 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 $210,025 a year, so the median home costs 9.5 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 54% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 62% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Menlo Park at a glance

Menlo Park 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 $210,025 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 54% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 62% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $4,001 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.2% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $3,239 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.4% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1964 1976 1980
Vacant homes 11.6% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 32,727 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Menlo Park

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Menlo Park 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 71% of the median Menlo Park household income of $210,025; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $789,000.

The median rent here is $3,239 a month, so owning the median home costs about $9,191 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
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

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
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

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Questions about home buying in Menlo Park

What is the median home value in Menlo Park?

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 Menlo Park?

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 Menlo Park?

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 Menlo Park

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