Neighborhood · Palo Alto, CA

Downtown North Eviction Risk: Lower

2 census tracts · pop 6,740 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 3.4/10 · range 3.1–3.6

Downtown North is a white-asian neighborhood in Palo Alto with 2 census tracts and a population of 6,740 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 3.4/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 44% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 18% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $3,253/month sits 7% lower than the Palo Alto citywide average ($3,484).

Risk score

3.4

Lower

2 tracts · population-weighted

Downtown North vs Palo Alto How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

43.5% +64%

Palo Alto: 26.6%

Average gross rent

$3,253 -7%

Palo Alto: $3,484

Average HH income

$138,928 -37%

Palo Alto: $220,408

Poverty rate

8.2% +52%

Palo Alto: 5.4%

Renter share

82.4% +82%

Palo Alto: 45.4%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Downtown North and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 3.1–3.6

Why Downtown North scores 3.4

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 6.8–6.8 across tracts

6.8

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 7.4–7.4 across tracts

7.4

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 8.1–8.1 across tracts

8.1

Rent control risk

44% of income on rent · Range 4.4–4.4 across tracts

4.4

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 6.6–6.6 across tracts

6.6

Tenant organizing strength

82% renter households · Range 8.8–8.8 across tracts

8.8

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 3.9–3.9 across tracts

3.9

Economic stress

8.2% below poverty line · Range 1.2–2.8 across tracts

2.0

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 3.8–5.2 across tracts

4.5

Risk score comparison

Downtown North vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in Downtown North

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
06085511302	3.6	3,466	44%	$3,019
06085511609	3.1	3,274	42%	$3,501

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 59

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 19%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 68%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 59%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 95%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Downtown North

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

6.0%Housing insecurity
3.3%Utility shutoff threat
6.4%Food insecurity
5.2%SNAP enrollment
3.8%No health insurance
23.7%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Downtown North

What is the eviction-risk score for Downtown North?

Downtown North scores 3.4/10 (Lower tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Downtown North compare to Palo Alto overall?

Downtown North scores 4.4 points lower than Palo Alto overall (7.8/10). Renters spend 44% of income on rent vs 27% citywide. Average rent: $3,253 vs $3,484.

What is the average rent in Downtown North?

Average gross rent in Downtown North is $3,253/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Downtown North residents are renters?

82% of Downtown North households are renter-occupied (vs 45% in Palo Alto). The neighborhood has 6,740 residents.

Is Downtown North a high social-vulnerability area?

Downtown North sits in the 59th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in Downtown North have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in Downtown North is census tract 06085511302 (score 3.6/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 3.1 to 3.6, a spread of 0.5 points.

How safe is Downtown North for landlords?

Downtown North carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (3.4/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Palo Alto as a whole (7.8/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Downtown North?

Downtown North has 6,794 residents (White-Asian Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (55.2%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (24.6%), Hispanic / Latino (12%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Downtown North

4 College Terrace 2 tracts · pop 5,270 3.2 Fairmeadow 2 tracts · pop 5,432 3.3 Bedford Square 5 tracts · pop 22,335 2.8 Creston 7 tracts · pop 26,315 3.7 Birdland 12 tracts · pop 60,203 3.1 Wilson Park 8 tracts · pop 39,225

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Palo Alto

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Downtown North.

3.3 Fairmeadow 2 tracts · pop 5,432 3.7 Evergreen Park 1 tracts · pop 4,820 3 Ventura 1 tracts · pop 4,784 3 Duveneck - St. Francis 1 tracts · pop 5,643 3 Crescent Park 1 tracts · pop 4,995 3 University South 1 tracts · pop 3,925

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