Atherton is a small, rural, and residential community, with no industrial land-use base. Native live oaks, white oaks, bays, redwoods, cedars, pines, and other ornamental trees cover the six square miles of town. Atherton’s population is 6,995, according to the 2011 census. In October of 2012, there were 5,052 registered voters and approximately 2,500 households. The median age is 48.2 years.