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CITY

Desert Hot Springs

California · 34,009 residents (2025 est.) · 30.126 sq mi
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The short version

Desert Hot Springs has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,761. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 16,618 residents. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $354,800. At a median age of 34.5, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 47% less than the California median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.5
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 150%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
33,200
+100%since 2000
from 16,582 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,102 / sq mi
+100%since 2000
from 550 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
34.5
+15%since 2000
from 30.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:34,009 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
10K16K22K29K35K1990201020202024Desert Hot Springs
202433K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,761
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,987 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$24,129
+102%since 2000
from $11,954 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.7%
+17.0 ptssince 2009
from 18.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.0%
−9.5 ptssince 2000
from 27.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.435
+7%since 2010
from 0.405 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade10%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade3.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Transportation & warehousing3.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services1.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.9%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Public administration0.3%
US avg: 4.8%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$354,800
+150%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $78,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,412
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $509 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
50.7%
+3.5 ptssince 2000
from 47.2% in 2000
49.3% rent
Vacancy rate
8.8%
−14.5 ptssince 2009
from 23.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
41.6%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 44.9% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
60.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 59.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
6.7
+124%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
50
RELATED:See current rent listings in Desert Hot Springs on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic48.5%(8,040)
Black5.7%(947)
Hispanic / Latino40.4%(6,699)
Asian1.8%(300)
Other0%
Diversity Score70.9%(11,765)
2024
White, non-Hispanic21.3%(7,066)
Black8.9%(2,963)
Hispanic / Latino63.6%(21,110)
Asian1.4%(463)
Other4.8%(1,598)
Diversity Score67.5%(22,407)
Diversity Score
67
−5%since 2000
from 71 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
16.7%
+7.7 ptssince 2000
from 8.9% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
79.6%
+8.7 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.5%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 2.4% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.5 min
+52%since 2000
from 18.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
72.1%
+1.3 ptssince 2009
from 70.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
17.4%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.5%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
5.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.5%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.6%
−10.7 ptssince 2011
from 17.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
62.7%
+1.8 ptssince 2011
from 60.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
15.7%
−33.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.0%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.0%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
25.1%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 23.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.3%
−45.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.2%
+1.7 ptssince 2012
from 12.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.5%
−59.4 ptssince 2013
from 69.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.9%
+15.8 ptssince 2017
from 74.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
46.7%
−8.2 ptssince 2016
from 54.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
50.0%
+9.0 ptssince 2016
from 41.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Compare Desert Hot Springs to nearby cities

DESERT HOT SPRINGS VS
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Income$73,572+39%
Home value$453,100+28%
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS VS
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Home value$604,000+70%
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS VS
Yucca Valley
Income$59,563+13%
Home value$363,400+2%
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS VS
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Income$107,364+103%
Home value$807,200+128%
Population17,876−47%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Desert Hot Springs, California?

Desert Hot Springs, California has about 33,200 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Desert Hot Springs, California?

The typical household in Desert Hot Springs, California earns about $52,761 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Desert Hot Springs, California expensive?

In Desert Hot Springs, California, the median home is worth about $354,800, and the typical rent is about $1,412 a month.

How educated are people in Desert Hot Springs, California?

About 16.7% of adults age 25 and over in Desert Hot Springs, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Desert Hot Springs, California?

About 18.0% of people in Desert Hot Springs, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Desert Hot Springs, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Desert Hot Springs, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 21,532 residents, a change of about 185 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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