Just because you make more than median doesn't mean you aren't still below the household poverty line. Once you grasp that, you'll begin to understand the completely upside down economy of the Bay Area. Palo Alto considers below 250k/y household low enough to qualify for subsidized housing. The top 1% make $450k and the top 1% in San Francisco make nearly $1m. You are in a crazy context you aren't yet fully realizing.