The Town FilesRedwood City, California
City in San Mateo County · population 84,292 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,801,700
- Household income
- $157,814
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.5
Redwood City is a city of 84,292 people in San Mateo County, California. The median home is worth $1,801,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). It ranks better transit than 95% of California towns, better for young professionals than 91% of California towns, better for cycling than 91% of California towns.
How Redwood City ranks
Percentile among California towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of California towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Redwood City is worth $1,801,700, above the typical California town ($596,900). Homes cost about 11.4 times the median household income of $157,814, which is more affordable than 4% of California towns. Median rent is $2,968 a month. 48.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Redwood City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,801,700 | $596,900 |
| Median rent | $2,968 | $1,827 |
| Median household income | $157,814 | $91,557 |
| Home value ÷ income | 11.4× | 6.4× |
| Homeownership | 48.6% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1977 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Redwood City
| People | Redwood City | Typical California town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 54.4% | 27.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 2.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 32.9% | — |
| Work from home | 26.7% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 93.3% |
Weather in Redwood City
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 40.5°F. About 19.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical California town: 0.0 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Redwood City since 1950.
Severe weather in San Mateo County since 1996
San Mateo County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4699: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3592: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4683: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| January 9, 2023 | Flood | EM-3591: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| August 22, 2020 | Fire | DR-4558: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in San Mateo County
San Mateo County had 416,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $196,441 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Redwood City itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Redwood City
22 public schools with 10,792 students, about 20.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sequoia High | 9-12 | 1,903 | 18.1 |
| John F. Kennedy Middle | 6-8 | 751 | 17.5 |
| KIPP Excelencia Community Preparatory (charter) | K-8 | 702 | 19.0 |
| Clifford Elementary | K-8 | 673 | 19.8 |
| Hoover Elementary | K-8 | 638 | 18.8 |
| Roy Cloud Elementary | K-8 | 615 | 19.8 |
| Design Tech High (charter) | 9-12 | 537 | 23.3 |
| Sandpiper Elementary | K-8 | 533 | 24.2 |
| North Star Academy | 3-8 | 527 | 25.1 |
| Orion Alternative | K-5 | 461 | 23.1 |
| Henry Ford Elementary | K-5 | 458 | 19.9 |
| Roosevelt Elementary | K-8 | 453 | 20.6 |
Towns near Redwood City
- North Fair Oaks, CA2.8 mi · 14,027 people · home $1,276,900
- San Carlos, CA3.2 mi · 30,722 people · home $2,000,001
- Foster City, CA4.0 mi · 33,805 people · home $1,838,200
- Atherton, CA4.1 mi · 7,188 people · home $2,000,001
- Menlo Park, CA4.4 mi · 33,780 people · home $2,000,001
- Belmont, CA4.4 mi · 28,335 people · home $2,000,001
- Emerald Lake Hills, CA4.4 mi · 4,406 people · home $2,000,001
- East Palo Alto, CA5.5 mi · 30,034 people · home $1,102,600
Redwood City questions
Is Redwood City, California a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Redwood City scores better for retirees than 40% of California towns and quieter than 22%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Redwood City?
The median owner-occupied home in Redwood City is valued at $1,801,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $157,814, so homes cost about 11.4 times income. Median rent is $2,968 a month.
What is the weather like in Redwood City?
July highs average 81.0°F and January lows 40.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Redwood City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Redwood City in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)