Real Estate Investing in Atherton, California (94027)

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

San Mateo County • Population: 7,030 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 94027 (Atherton, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 15.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 46.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Atherton, CA (94027)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $8,661,875
Avg Monthly Rent $15,500
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $250,001
% Renters 14.1%

Market Analysis: 94027 Atherton

ZIP 94027 inside San Mateo County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $8.7M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 94027 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $8.7M median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within CA, ZIP 94027 trails on several market indicators that neighboring San Mateo County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 94027 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Atherton averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Atherton:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 34.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $15,500/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 Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
38 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.6%
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 Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 94027

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
0.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$1,643,305/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $4,929,915 $5,220 0.8% +6.3% $1,643,305
4BR $6,639,412 $5,400 0.6% +4.6% $1,659,853
5BR $10,466,403 +3.7% $2,093,281

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$9.1M$7.8M$6.4M$5.0M$3.7M$2.3MJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$16,570$13,467$10,364$7,261$4,158$1,055Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 94027 Compare?

Metric 94027 Atherton San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA California
Home Value $8,661,875 $8,661,875 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $15,500 $15,500 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.4% 1.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 94027? 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 94027 (Atherton, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving San Mateo County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Bayside Property Management is a Peninsula Property Management Company serving San Mateo County. summary from their website

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Boardwalk Investments Property Management specializes in property management and leasing in San Francisco and the Northern Peninsula. summary from their website

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Five Star Property Management is a leader in single-family, condominium, and multi-family apartment rentals property management in San Mateo and Northern California. 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
1.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $8,661,875
Monthly Rent $15,500
Price-to-Rent 46.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.2%
Cap Rate 1.4%
5-Year IRR 6.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.4%). 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
15.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 94027

Population: 7,030

💰 Median Household Income
$250,001
This area
$250,001
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
86.0%
This area
86.0%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.4 years
This area
46.4 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.6%
Asian 19.5%
Other/Mixed 7.4%
Hispanic/Latino 3.5%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
19.9%
This area
19.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
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 94027

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
19.4:1 Avg Class Size
$32,764 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Encinal Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
629 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,717 Per Student
A Very Good

Laurel Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
660 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$26,717 Per Student
A Very Good

Las Lomitas Elementary

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
567 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$47,426 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
556 Students
👨‍🏫
24.2:1 Class Size
💰
$30,195 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Tide Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 150 Jefferson Dr., Menlo Park
👥
208 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,956 Per Student
A Very Good

La Entrada Middle

📚 04 – 08 School
📍 2200 Sharon Rd., Menlo Park
👥
591 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$47,426 Per Student
A Very Good

Hillview Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 1100 Elder Ave., Menlo Park
👥
858 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,717 Per Student
A Very Good

Connect Community Charter

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 635 Oakside Ave., Redwood City
👥
132 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,725 Per Student
A Very Good

Addison Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 650 Addison Ave., Palo Alto
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$31,452 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 3,963 Off-Campus Students
C
Menlo College
840 students · 0.7 mi
A
Stanford University
18,446 students · 2.6 mi
D
Alder Graduate School of Education
453 students · 3.0 mi
C+
Canada College
6,141 students · 3.4 mi
C
Palo Alto University
1,223 students · 5.0 mi
C
Sofia University
1,037 students · 5.4 mi
C
Notre Dame de Namur University
237 students · 6.3 mi
C+
Foothill College
12,931 students · 7.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,963 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Atherton, CA stack up for property investment?

Yes - Atherton, CA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $8.7M home prices against $15,500/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How strong are rents in Atherton, CA?

The typical rental in Atherton, CA commands about $15,500/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $8.7M purchase basis.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Atherton, CA?

Occupancy in Atherton, CA runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $15,500/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How landlord-friendly is Atherton, CA?

Landlord-friendliness in Atherton, CA is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Which investment style suits Atherton, CA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Atherton, CA best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $8.7M price point.

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How 94027 ranks in San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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