Palo Alto's market is expensive and quick. Redfin's median of about $3.6 million is more than double San Jose's, and the median home sells in under two weeks.
The numbers
- Redfin median sale price: $3,608,282 for the three months ending September 2026, up 0.9% year over year
- Homes sold in September: 135 (up 2.3% year over year)
- Median days on market: 13, compared with 14 a year earlier
- Sale-to-list ratio: 107.1% (+2.5 points year over year); 62.4% of homes sold above list price
- Typical number of offers: about 3, per Redfin
- Zillow Home Value Index: $3,592,240, up 5.9% over the past year; homes go pending in about 11 days (as of Sept. 30, 2026)
Reading the two measures
Redfin's median reflects homes that actually sold in the period, so it can swing with the mix of condos and houses. Zillow's index estimates the typical value of all homes in Palo Alto, so it moves more smoothly. When they disagree, the sales mix is usually the reason.
What it means for buyers and sellers
A sale-to-list ratio above 100% means homes are, on average, selling above their asking price. Buyers in Palo Alto should budget for that gap; sellers can use days on market as a guide to how quickly a well-priced home should move.
Both sources update monthly. Figures are as published on the Redfin and Zillow market pages on Oct. 27, 2026.