Foster City, CA vs Palo Alto, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Foster City
63.9
#1730 nationally
Palo Alto
67.4
#1429 nationally
Foster City leads in crime level (1.9 vs 5.8). Palo Alto leads in average commute (23.9 min vs 32.4 min). Palo Alto leads in walk score (61 vs 50).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Foster City, CA | Palo Alto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 63.9 (#1730) | 67.4 (#1429) |
| Population | 32,180 | 65,882 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,863,228 | $3,599,324 |
| Median Household Income | $191,267 | $214,118 |
| Average Commute | 32.4 min | 23.9 min |
| Walk Score | 50 | 61 |
| Crime Level | 1.9 | 5.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 276 | N/A |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.3 | D+40.0 |
D
63.9 Score
Foster City, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,863,228
Population
32,180
Crime
Low
Walk Score
50
Pacific
View Foster City, CA →
D+
67.4 Score
Palo Alto, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$3,599,324
Population
65,882
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Palo Alto, CA →
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