Business Statistics:
* Number of Jobs in Palo Alto - 98,000
* Unemployment Rate - 3.2% (2008)
* Office Vacancy Rate - 7.24% (2008)
* Office Lease Rate Range - $2.86 – $5.17(2008)
* R&D Vacancy Rate - 4.43% (2008)
* R&D Lease Rate Range - $2.50 – $3.74 (2008)
* Retail Space Rate Range - $1.50 – $6.00 (2009)
* Commercial and Industrial Space - 27.3 million square feet
General Statistics:
* Population - 63,367
* Mean Household Income - $140,900*
* Incorporated Area - 25.98 square miles
* Form of Government - Charter City, adopted July 1, 1950
* Type of Governance - Council-Manager
* Government Expenditures per Capita - $1,693 (2000)
* Local Amenities - 35 parks (comprising 170 acres and 3,731 acres of open space), tennis courts (52), community centers (4), theaters (3), swimming pools (3), nature centers (2), athletic center, golf course, cultural center, junior museum and zoo, urban parks and street medians including Foothills Park, Baylands Preserve, Mitchell Park and the Stanford/Palo Alto Community Playing Fields.
* City-Owned and Operated Utilities - Water, wastewater treatment, electricity, gas, refuse, storm drain and fiber optic ring
* Housing - Number of units: 25,216 (Census 2000 SF-1); Total rental housing dwelling units: 10,796 (Census 2000 SF-1); Median value: $880,000 (Jan. 2001)
* Percent of Palo Altans with Internet Access - 96% (1999)
* Education - 77% BA or Higher (81.1 % if includes Associates Degree)
* School Enrollment in Palo Alto Unified School District:10,000 (12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools)
* Miles of Streets - 200
* Miles of Bicycle Lanes - 26
* Number of Libraries and Annual Circulation - 5 libraries with a circulation of 1,542,116 (2008)
Recreation in Palo Alto
Palo Alto has an array of recreational amenities unusual for its size, including a Junior Museum and Zoo, a Children’s Theatre, and 53 tennis courts.
Soccer is increasingly popular, and the City and Stanford University partnered to build a brand new facility on the corner of page Mill Road and El Camino Real to meet the growing demand for playing fields.
Thirty-four City parks ensure lots of space for running around and working off youthful energy.
Palo Alto isn’t just for jocks, however. The City organizes classes for every interest, from Architectural Design for Kids to Japanese Brush Painting to Fishing With a Ranger. Classes are open to residents and non-residents on a reservation basis.
If culture is your bag, visit the Palo Alto Art Center for top notch exhibitions and instruction. Or search out books and DVDs in one of Palo Alto City Library’s five branches.
Name an activity. Swimming, boating, hiking, painting, sculpting, lawn bowling…whatever you can think of, Palo Alto provides a venue and learning opportunities. It’s 26 square miles of fun.
Palo Alto Business Facts
Palo Alto is home to more than 7,000 businesses that employ more than 98,000 jobs. These companies consider Palo Alto to be the premier business location in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley for a variety of reasons. Many cities say they are committed to working with local businesses – Palo Alto puts it in writing. The Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan, a blueprint for the City’s future, describes its vision:
"Palo Alto's business environment will be exciting, dynamic and vital. Businesses will have access to a wide array of support services and will enjoy positive relationships with Palo Alto residents, officials and City staff."
The focus of the vision is to serve the needs of existing companies, while attracting new businesses that fit the employment and service profile that complements Palo Alto business and residential communities.
Palo Alto is home to major employment centers, including:
* Retail and Commercial
Downtown/University Avenue, Stanford Shopping Center, El Camino Real, Town and Country Village, California Avenue
* Research and Development
Stanford Research Park, home to major employers in Palo Alto.
* Neighborhood Retail and Local Centers
Midtown, Alma Plaza, Charleston Center, Edgewood Plaza
* Startup and Service Industries
East Bayshore and San Antonio Road/Bayshore Corridors
* Medical Facilities Stanford Medical Center, Veteran's Hospital, Hoover Hospital, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation
* Home to Many Small Businesses
Palo Alto’s strategic location and excellent market for local products and services benefit large and small businesses alike. Outstanding restaurants and service-oriented businesses are known for their friendliness and attention to customer satisfaction. Distinctive architecture and the internationally recognized murals of Greg Brown enliven city streets and add to the ambiance of Palo Alto. Committed to excellence in serving the needs of the public, businesses and residents alike are viewed as partners in maintaining the quality of life and strategic growth of the City. With partnership in mind, City staff is dedicated to providing companies with information, assistance and focused problem solving to strengthen the Palo Alto community.
