The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 94027 sells for about $1,399,000, or $939 per square foot.
Prices are roughly flat from a year ago (+0.67%), a market in balance. Homes take about 36 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $3,659 a month.
This ZIP has no home sales of its own, so its market figures come from San Mateo County, California (county-level). Population, rents, hazards, lending and amenities are this ZIP's own readings.
ZIP 94027 — Atherton
Atherton remains the most expensive ZIP code in the U.S., with a median home price of $8.55 million and extremely low inventory. The market is currently in a seller's zone, though cooling demand has slightly moderated the pace of price growth compared to previous years. High-end sales continue to close well above asking price, driven by limited supply and sustained demand for luxury estates.
This ZIP is ideal for ultra-high-net-worth families and executives seeking privacy, large estate lots, and proximity to elite private schools and Silicon Valley tech hubs.
Median prices moved up 0.7% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 36 days on market with 2.0 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 102% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 2.5% · poverty 3.0% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 94027, San Mateo County, CA
Atherton consistently ranks as one of the safest communities in the San Francisco Peninsula region with very low rates of violent and property crime.
The area is served by highly-rated public school districts including Menlo Park City School District and Sequoia Union High School District, known for exceptional academic performance.
The area faces moderate wildfire risk typical of the Peninsula foothills and is subject to standard California seismic hazard protocols.
Atherton is a strictly residential enclave with no commercial zoning, relying on the economic momentum of neighboring Silicon Valley tech hubs and major corporate headquarters in Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (California) — Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act Special Parcel Tax Assessment: Levies an annual direct, non-ad valorem special tax directly on the parcel's secured property tax bill to fund designated community infrastructure (e.g., roads, sewer facilities, school facilities, emergency services) and repay municipal debt bonds. State (California) — California Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption: Reduces the taxable assessed value of the qualifying owner-occupied principal residence by $7,000 against the county assessment roll, generating a direct tax savings of approximately $70 annually (computed as $7,000 × 1% base rate). State (California) — California Proposition 13 Ad Valorem Real Property Tax: Establishes a base ad valorem tax rate capped at 1.0% of assessed value plus voter-approved local indebtedness and direct assessments (typically resulting in an effective tax rate of 1.1% to 1.25%).
Residents have convenient access to the Caltrain corridor and major highways like I-280 and US-101, facilitating commutes to major Silicon Valley employment centers.
The area features expansive private estates and proximity to Holbrook-Palmer Park, with easy access to high-end shopping and dining in downtown Menlo Park and Palo Alto.
The rental market is extremely limited and high-end, characterized by low vacancy pressure and a high concentration of luxury single-family homes.
The local economy is driven by the proximity to Silicon Valley's major technology employers, including Meta, Google, and Stanford University.
The area is served by the Caltrain Menlo Park and Atherton stations, providing rail connectivity between San Francisco and San Jose.
Development is strictly limited by local zoning ordinances that prioritize low-density, large-lot residential estates.
The San Mateo County Assessor manages property valuations in accordance with state-mandated assessment cycles.
Parcels are subject to local school district bonds and San Mateo County special district assessments for fire and emergency services.
Property insurance premiums are rising due to regional wildfire risk, though the area's high-value homes often require specialized high-net-worth coverage.
California continues to see net domestic out-migration, though high-wealth enclaves like Atherton remain stable due to limited inventory and high demand.
California is primarily a non-judicial foreclosure state, with a standard notice of default and trustee sale process.
Sellers are required to provide a comprehensive Transfer Disclosure Statement covering all known material defects of the property.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 94027 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
A 22-acre park featuring walking paths, tennis courts, and community facilities.
An exclusive social and equestrian club serving the local community.
Key-figure check: median price corroborated by the published ten-year series (2025) (within 12.5%). Coherence hold-out: this pass's median price ($8,550,000) sat outside the 0.25–4× band around San Mateo County's retained level and was not stored. Coherence hold-out: this pass's median rent ($15,000) sat outside the 0.25–4× band around San Mateo County's retained level and was not stored.