About Atherton
U.S. Census Facts for Atherton
- Total Population: 6,914
- 2,440 housing units – 91.5% owner occupied
- Median household income: $239,886
- Bachelors degree or higher: 84.1%
- Median age: 47.6
Atherton’s early residents have had a dramatic impact on the town even as it exists today. The early residents typically had large estates and did not want businesses to operate nearby. In 1923 Menlo Park wanted to incorporate as a city and to include the land of what is now Atherton. The community would not be able to remain strictly residential if it were to become part of Menlo Park. A delegation rushed to Sacramento arriving before the delegation from Menlo Park and was able to incorporate as the town of Atherton on September 12, 1923.
A few of the large land holdings were subdivided during the 1930s. In the 1940s and 1950s over eighty subdivisions were recorded. Currently the minimum lot size is one acre in the R1A and R1B districts. One of the impacts of a strictly residential area composed of large estates is that there is little need for parks. Holbrook-Palmer Park was created from 22 acres of land left to the town by Ms. Olive Holbrook-Palmer in 1958. The Menlo Circus Club is a private club with stables and a riding ring located within the town.
Atherton Real Estate Trends
Home prices in Atherton are at the high end of the local real estate market. The low number of sales and the dynamics of high priced home sales cause Atherton market values to deviate from broader local markets.
As with most homes priced at the high end of the local real estate market, Atherton houses are typically selling under list price. The average sales price is only about 2% under list price.
Atherton Schools
Atherton does not have its own public school system. Its public schools are part of the Menlo Park School District, the Los Lomitas Elementary School District, the Redwood City School District, or the Sequoia Union High School District.
The Menlo Park Elementary School District serves approximately 2300 students. The schools receive significant support from the Menlo Park Atherton Education Foundation.