Real Estate Investing in Los Altos, California (94022)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Santa Clara County • Population: 19,993 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 94022 (Los Altos, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 52.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Los Altos, CA (94022)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $5,081,402
Avg Monthly Rent $8,080
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $250,001
% Renters 18.3%

Market Analysis: 94022 Los Altos

This part of Santa Clara County is not an easy win. The 94022 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 94022 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $5.1M median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 94022 among CA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 94022 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Los Altos's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 94022. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Los Altos:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 20.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $8,080/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
37 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.9%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 94022

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$997,603/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $1,232,909 $3,540 2.1% +0.6% $1,232,909
2BR $1,995,207 $4,190 1.5% +1.3% $997,603
3BR $4,132,159 $5,510 1.0% +7.7% $1,377,386
4BR $5,063,059 $5,970 0.8% +5.9% $1,265,765
5BR $6,395,813 +5.5% $1,279,163

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$5.5M$4.7M$3.8M$2.9M$2.1M$1.2MJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$8,288$7,684$7,080$6,475$5,871$5,267Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94022 Compare?

Metric 94022 Los Altos San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA California
Home Value $5,081,402 $4,850,183 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $8,080 $8,438 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.2% 1.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94022? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 94022 (Los Altos, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Santa Clara County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Aborn Properties are leading experts in property management in the San Jose area. summary from their website

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Investment Property Management in San Jose and Santa Clara County since 1969. summary from their website

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San Jose Property Managers offering residential property management services including marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance, accounting, and eviction. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $5,081,402
Monthly Rent $8,080
Price-to-Rent 52.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.9%
Cap Rate 1.2%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +11.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94022

Population: 19,993

💰 Median Household Income
$250,001
This area
$250,001
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.3%
This area
18.3%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
88.5%
This area
88.5%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.5 years
This area
48.5 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 54.2%
Asian 38.7%
Other/Mixed 6.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.0%
This area
26.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 94022

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
18.0:1 Avg Class Size
$24,350 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Gardner Bullis Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
293 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
A Very Good

Almond Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
A Very Good

Ardis G. Egan Junior High

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
496 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
A Very Good

Santa Rita Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
👥
367 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bullis Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
1,025 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,101 Per Student
B Good

Los Altos High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,114 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$43,128 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Georgina P. Blach Junior High

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 1120 Covington Rd., Los Altos
👥
404 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
A Very Good

Covington Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 205 Covington Rd., Los Altos
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
A Very Good

Loyola Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 770 Berry Ave., Los Altos
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
A Very Good

Oak Avenue Elementary

📚 K – 06 School
📍 1501 Oak Ave., Los Altos
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
19.7:1 Class Size
💰
$22,218 Per Student
B Good

Montclaire Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 1160 St. Joseph Ave., Los Altos
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
21.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,117 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 7,648 Off-Campus Students
C+
Foothill College
12,931 students · 1.0 mi
D
Foothill-De Anza Community College District
0 students · 1.0 mi
C
Palo Alto University
1,223 students · 3.0 mi
A
Stanford University
18,446 students · 5.3 mi
C
Sofia University
1,037 students · 5.6 mi
C+
De Anza College
16,990 students · 6.0 mi
C
Menlo College
840 students · 7.2 mi
D
California University-Silicon Valley
0 students · 7.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,648 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Los Altos, CA?

CA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Los Altos inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What strategy should investors use in Los Altos, CA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Los Altos, CA best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $5.1M price point.

What price range are homes in Los Altos, CA?

The median home value in Los Altos, CA is roughly $5.1M. That puts it reasonable relative to the CA statewide average.

Should investors consider Los Altos, CA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Los Altos, CA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $5.1M and rents of $8,080/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What does house hacking look like in Los Altos, CA?

For house hackers, Los Altos, CA is a tougher. The $8,080/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $5.1M property.

You know 94022 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 94022 ranks in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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