Los Altos Hills, California

Los Altos Hills (US: /lɔːs ˈæltoʊs/; Los Altos, Spanish for "The Heights") is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 8,489 at the 2020 census. The town is known for its affluence and expensive residential real estate.

Not to be confused with Los Altos, California.

Town of Los Altos Hills
Town in California
Westwind Community Barn
Westwind Community Barn
Official logo of Town of Los Altos Hills
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
Los Altos Hills is located in California
Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills
Location in the United States
Los Altos Hills is located in the United States
Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°22′17″N 122°8′15″W
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySanta Clara
IncorporatedJanuary 27, 1956[1]
Government
 • MayorLinda G. Swan [2]
Area
[3]
 • Total9.03 sq mi (23.38 km2)
 • Land9.03 sq mi (23.38 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
292 ft (89 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total8,489
 • Density940/sq mi (360/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
94022, 94024
Area code650
FIPS code06-43294
GNIS feature ID1659746
Websitelosaltoshills.ca.gov

Geography

Los Altos Hills is located at 37°22′17″N 122°8′15″W (37.371390, -122.137605).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.8 square miles (23 km2), all of it land.

The town is located in a group of small hills. Both the Altamont and Monta Vista Faults pass through the town.

Los Altos Hills maintains a rural feel, similar to the likes of neighboring Woodside and Portola Valley (see: Strictly Residential). There are many open space preserves, such as Rancho San Antonio and Westwind Barn.

The Los Altos Hills ZIP code 94022 appeared on the 2017 Forbes list of America's most expensive ZIP codes; 94022 was ranked the 3rd most expensive in the United States, with a median home price of $7,755,000.[6] In 2019, a Bloomberg analysis ranked Los Altos Hills the fourth richest town in the United States.[7]

Strictly residential

Los Altos Hills has a ban on commercial zones, which was upheld by the California Court of Appeal (First District) in 1973.[8] The town's two retail commercial operations are the book store on the campus of Foothill College and the gift shop on the grounds of the Immaculate Heart Monastery of the Poor Clare Colettines. The town does not have a post office or library, with mail delivery provided from nearby Los Altos.

The town's zoning regulations require a minimum lot size of one acre (4,000 m²), setbacks from the property boundary, and easements for public pathways.[9][10] Landowners are limited to one primary dwelling per lot, which effectively bans multifamily housing; this ban and the minimum lot size were upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1974.[11]

The town contracts with Santa Clara County for police and fire services, making it a so-called "contract city" under California law.

The town is home to a monastery of the Immaculate Heart of the Poor Clare Colettines.[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19603,412—
19706,871101.4%
19807,4218.0%
19907,5141.3%
20007,9025.2%
20107,9220.3%
20208,4897.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2010

At the 2010 census Los Altos Hills had a population of 7,922. The population density was 900.0 inhabitants per square mile (347.5/km2). The racial makeup of Los Altos Hills was 5,417 (68.4%) White, 37 (0.5%) African American, 4 (0.1%) Native American, 2,109 (26.6%) Asian, 8 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 50 (0.6%) from other races, and 297 (3.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 213 people (2.7%).[14]

The census reported that 99.3% of the population lived in households and 0.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 2,829 households, 949 (33.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,204 (77.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 114 (4.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 53 (1.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 53 (1.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 19 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 359 households (12.7%) were one person and 210 (7.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.78. There were 2,371 families (83.8% of households); the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 1,811 people (22.9%) under the age of 18, 342 people (4.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,083 people (13.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,848 people (36.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,838 people (23.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 50.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

There were 3,001 housing units at an average density of 341.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,582 (91.3%) were owner-occupied and 247 (8.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%. 7,162 people (90.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 707 people (8.9%) lived in rental housing units.

The median household income was $219,485 and the median family income was $224,922. Males had a median income of $152,361 versus $89,216 for females. The per capita income for the town was $118,779. About 2.2% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 7,902 people, 2,740 households, and 2,339 families in the town. The population density was 917.2 inhabitants per square mile (354.1/km2). There were 2,816 housing units at an average density of 326.9 per square mile (126.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 74.94% White, 21.10% Asian, 0.59% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 2.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15%.[15]

Of the 2,740 households 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.0% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 10.5% of households were one person and 4.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 23.6% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 35.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% 65 or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median household income was $143,570 and the median family income was $161,865. Males had a median income of $200,000+ versus $178,288 for females. The per capita income for the town was $92,840. About 1.2% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

Politics and government
Eucalyptus trees at Esther Clark Park, which is partly in Los Altos Hills and partly in Palo Alto

The town of Los Altos Hills has a five-member elected city council. Several volunteer committees report to the city council, covering issues such as Open Space, Pathways, Environmental Initiatives, Education, Historical, Parks and Recreation, Community Relations Committee, Emergency Communications Committee, Environmental Design and Protection, Finance and Investment, Westwind Community Barn.

Los Altos Hills also has a twenty-member Youth Commission.[16]

In the California State Legislature, Los Altos Hills is in the 13th Senate District, represented by Democrat Josh Becker and in the 24th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Alex Lee.[17]

In the United States House of Representatives, Los Altos Hills is in California's 16th congressional district, represented by Democrat Anna Eshoo.[18]

Of 5,870 registered voters, 37% are Democrats, while 29% are Republicans according to the California Secretary of State.[19]

Education

Los Altos Hills is served by both the Palo Alto Unified School District (serving the northern part of the town) and the Los Altos School District (serving the southern part of the town). In 2008 the Los Altos School District reopened Gardner Bullis School, a public elementary (K-6) grade school in Los Altos Hills.

Ventana School is a private pre-school and elementary school modeled around the Reggio Emilia approach. Pinewood is a private coeducational K-12 school. The Pinewood School Upper Campus is also located in Los Altos Hills, serving students in grades 7-12.

Foothill College operated by the Foothill–De Anza Community College District is in the city. The college has the district's headquarters.[20]

Notable residents
David Packard's home and apricot orchard in winter. The hills of Los Altos Hills are typically green in winter, brown in summer.

References
  1. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. "City Council". Town of Los Altos Hills.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. "Los Altos Hills(town) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. Sharf, Samantha. "Full List: America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes 2017". Forbes. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  7. "These Are the Wealthiest Towns in the U.S." Bloomberg. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  8. Town of Los Altos Hills v. Adobe Creek Properties, Inc., 32 Cal.App.3d 488 (1973).
  9. Peraino, Kevin (September 4, 2000). "Gold in Them Thar Hills: Money isn't new to Los Altos. But this much new money is". Newsweek. p. 55.
  10. Lauren McSherry (April 20, 2005). "Los Altos Hills pathways map shows trails that dead-end or don't exist". Los Altos Town Crier Archives. Archived from the original on October 30, 2006.
  11. Ybarra v. Town of Los Altos Hills, 503 F.2d 250, 254 (9th Cir. 1974).
  12. "Poor Clare Colettines of Los Altos Hills, California".
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Los Altos Hills town". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. "Youth Commission | Los Altos Hills, CA". www.losaltoshills.ca.gov. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  17. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  18. "California's 18th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  19. CA Secretary of State – Report of Registration – February 10, 2017
  20. Foothill–De Anza Community College District website. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  21. "George Marcus". Forbes.com. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  22. "People". Los Altos Hills California. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
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