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CITY

Desert Hot Springs

California · 34,009 residents (2025 est.) · 30.1 sq mi
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The short version

Desert Hot Springs is home to 33,200 people in California. Since 2000 the city has more than doubled, up 16,618 people. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. That trails the California median by roughly 47%. 51% of homes are owner-occupied. The median age is 34.5, younger than the US median of 38.9.

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
34,009 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,102 / sq mi
+46%since 2009
from 756 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
34.5
+15%since 2000
from 30.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
30.1 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
10K16K22K29K35K19902000201020202024Desert Hot Springs
202433K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 57.9%(2,616)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(2,074)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148%(2,640)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 198.7%(2,900)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 247%(2,310)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3412.8%(4,249)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.5%(4,139)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(3,919)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6412.2%(4,050)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 748%(2,670)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 844.2%(1,381)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over0.8%(252)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: 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%
Persons per household
2.90 people
−6%since 2009
from 3.07 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
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
+4%since 2009
from 6.5 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
50
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic48.5%(8,040)
Black5.7%(947)
Hispanic / Latino40.4%(6,699)
Asian1.8%(300)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic21.3%(7,066)
Black8.9%(2,963)
Hispanic / Latino63.6%(21,110)
Asian1.4%(463)
Other4.8%(1,598)
Diversity Score
67
−11%since 2009
from 76 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican51.3%(17,038)
Central American8.6%(2,861)
Salvadoran3.3%(1,106)
Guatemalan3.2%(1,070)
Panamanian1.5%(506)
Spaniard0.6%(206)
Dominican0.3%(91)
Argentine0.3%(87)
Nicaraguan0.2%(82)
Colombian0.2%(72)
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data
Honduran0.2%(58)
Costa Rican0.1%(39)
Peruvian0%(15)
Asian origin
Filipino0.5%(162)
Asian Indian0.4%(120)
Korean0.3%(90)
Vietnamese0.2%(54)
Chinese0.1%(40)
Japanese0.1%(25)
Taiwanese0%(14)
Thai0%(10)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0.6%(191)
Ancestry
English6.3%(2,080)
German5.1%(1,689)
Irish4.2%(1,390)
Italian1.7%(566)
French1.5%(486)
American1.4%(459)
Polish0.8%(254)
Norwegian0.6%(206)
Swedish0.5%(165)
Scottish0.5%(159)
West Indian0.5%(154)
+ 26 more ancestry groups with data
Romanian0.4%(148)
Jamaican0.4%(145)
Welsh0.4%(141)
Dutch0.3%(102)
Scotch-Irish0.3%(88)
Danish0.2%(77)
Arab0.2%(74)
Swiss0.2%(55)
Russian0.2%(51)
Lithuanian0.2%(50)
British0.1%(45)
Lebanese0.1%(36)
Canadian0.1%(33)
Ukrainian0.1%(32)
Iranian0.1%(22)
Hungarian0.1%(21)
Croatian0.1%(19)
Slovak0.1%(17)
Finnish0%(14)
Greek0%(12)
Nigerian0%(12)
Austrian0%(11)
Czech0%(10)
Syrian0%(9)
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%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.3%
+3.2 ptssince 2020
from 67.1% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
13.3%
+4.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
15.7%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.2% 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%
−5.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.8% 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%
−19.6 ptssince 2013
from 30.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
89.9%
+15.8 ptssince 2017
from 74.1% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
95.6%
+7.3 ptssince 2020
from 88.3% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
92.6%
+4.8 ptssince 2020
from 87.7% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
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%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married42.6%(5,361)
Married45.1%(5,677)
Widowed2.4%(301)
Divorced10%(1,259)
Women 15+
Never married38.6%(5,119)
Married40.9%(5,423)
Widowed7.7%(1,019)
Divorced12.9%(1,711)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
10.5%
−19.6 ptssince 2013
from 30.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
30.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 29.0% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
5.6%
−1.8 ptssince 2020
from 7.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
16.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2020
from 17.3% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
50.2%
+4.7 ptssince 2020
from 45.5% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
1.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 1.4% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
35.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 35.3% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
61.2%
+4.0 ptssince 2020
from 57.2% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)21.6%(222)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)15.6%(160)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era39.8%(409)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.5%(26)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II2.6%(27)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,028 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS VS
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DESERT HOT SPRINGS VS
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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

How we source and harmonize this data →