Atherton, California

Atherton, California
Holbrook-Palmer Park
Location of Atherton in San Mateo County, California
Atherton
Location in the United States
Atherton
Atherton (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°27′31″N 122°12′0″W / 37.45861°N 122.20000°W / 37.45861; -122.20000[1]
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Mateo
IncorporatedSeptember 12, 1923[2]
Named afterFaxon Dean Atherton[2]
Government
 • City council[5]
  • Mayor Rick DeGolia
  • Vice Mayor Bill Widmer
  • Elizabeth Lewis
  • Robert Polito
  • Diana Hawkins Manuelian
 • AssemblymemberAlex Lee (D) (24th)[3]
 • State SenatorJosh Becker (D) (13th)[3]
 • U.S. Rep.Sam Liccardo (D) (16th)[4]
Area
 • Total
5.05 sq mi (13.07 km2)
 • Land5.02 sq mi (12.99 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)  0.63%
Elevation59 ft (18 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,188
 • Density1,433.01/sq mi (553.28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code[7]
94027
Area code[8]650
FIPS code06-03092
GNIS feature IDs1657960, 2411651
Websitewww.ci.atherton.ca.us

Atherton (/ˈæθərtən/ ATH-ər-tən) is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 6,823 as of July 2023 estimates. The town's zoning regulations permit only one single-family home per acre in new subdivisions, though smaller lots exist from prior zoning laws.[9]

Atherton is known for its high concentration of wealth; in 1990 and 2019,[10] Atherton was ranked as having the highest per capita income among U.S. places that have a population between 2,500 and 9,999,[11] and is regularly ranked as having the highest cost of living in the United States.[12][13][14][15] In 2023, Atherton had the highest median home prices in the United States, at $7,950,000.[16]

  1. ^ a b "Atherton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Atherton History". Town of Atherton. April 27, 2007. Archived from the original on September 12, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. ^ "California's 16th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  5. ^ "City Council". Town of Atherton. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  7. ^ "USPS – ZIP Code Lookup – Search By City". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on August 30, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  8. ^ "NANP Administration System". North American Numbering Plan Administration. Archived from the original on September 22, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
  9. ^ "16.24.030 - Lot Width and Depth". Atherton Municipal Code. Town of Atherton. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "These Are the Wealthiest Towns in the U.S." Bloomberg. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  11. ^ Archive of "1990 CPH-L-126. Median Family Income for Places with a Population of 2,500 to 9,999, Ranked Within the United States: 1989", United States Census Bureau. 1990 CPH-L-126F.html Original page
  12. ^ Levy, Francesca (September 27, 2010). "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes". Forbes.
  13. ^ Brennan, Morgan (October 16, 2013). "America's Most Expensive Zip Codes In 2013: The Complete List". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013.
  14. ^ Sharf, Samantha (December 8, 2016). "Full List: America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes 2016". Forbes. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  15. ^ SFGATE, Sam Moore (November 22, 2022). "Bay Area town named most expensive ZIP code for 6th year". SFGATE.
  16. ^ Kolomatsky, Michael (November 9, 2023). "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2023.