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
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Mateo
IncorporatedSeptember 12, 1923
Named afterFaxon Dean Atherton
Government
 • City council
  • Mayor Rick DeGolia
  • Vice Mayor Bill Widmer
  • Elizabeth Lewis
  • Robert Polito
  • Diana Hawkins Manuelian
 • AssemblymemberAlex Lee (D) (24th)
 • State SenatorJosh Becker (D) (13th)
 • U.S. Rep.Sam Liccardo (D) (16th)
Area
 • Total
5.05 sq mi (13.07 km2)
 • Land5.02 sq mi (12.99 km2)
 • Water0.031 sq mi (0.08 km2)  0.63%
Elevation
59 ft (18 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,188
 • Density1,433.0/sq mi (553.28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
94027
Area code650
FIPS code06-03092
NewspaperThe Almanac
Websitewww.ci.atherton.ca.us
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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.

The town has historically been known for its high concentration of wealth. Atherton had the highest per capita income among American towns (populations between 2,500 and 9,999) in both 1990 and 2019. It regularly ranks as having the highest cost of living in the United States. The town had the highest median home prices in the country throughout 2023, at $7.95 million.