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CITY

Palm Desert

California · 53,259 residents (2025 est.) · 26.777 sq mi
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Part of the Riverside metro area
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Notable rankings
#131Oldest by median ageof 6,82657.5
The short version

Palm Desert has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $77,513. Population has grown 26% since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $542,000. With a median age of 57.5, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 57.5
US median: 38.9
More educated
41% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 69%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
51,990
+26%since 2000
from 41,155 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,942 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 1,537 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
57.5
+20%since 2000
from 48.0 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:53,259 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
20K29K38K47K56K1990201020202024Palm Desert
202452K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$77,513
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,316 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$57,858
+73%since 2000
from $33,463 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
51.1%
+13.7 ptssince 2009
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
11.0%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.512
+3%since 2010
from 0.499 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information12.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services7.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Public administration4.2%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade4.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.8%
US avg: 2.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction0.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$542,000
+69%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $176,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,778
+31%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $744 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
65.0%
−1.9 ptssince 2000
from 66.9% in 2000
35.0% rent
Vacancy rate
33.3%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 32.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
36.2%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 37.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
60.8%
+3.6 ptssince 2009
from 57.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
7.0
+92%since 2000
from 3.7 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
41
RELATED:See current rent listings in Palm Desert on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic77.6%(31,919)
Black1.1%(446)
Hispanic / Latino17.1%(7,031)
Asian2.5%(1,036)
Other0%
Diversity Score43.2%(17,787)
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.6%(33,040)
Black1.6%(818)
Hispanic / Latino26.7%(13,896)
Asian4.7%(2,450)
Other3.4%(1,786)
Diversity Score65.1%(33,861)
Diversity Score
65
+51%since 2000
from 43 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.7%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 31.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 88.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
16.3%
+4.9 ptssince 2000
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
21.0 min
+60%since 2000
from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.0%
−9.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
13.3%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 8.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
14.9%
+8.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
−2.1 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.9% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
3.9%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.4%
−2.0 ptssince 2011
from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
49.3%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 51.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
+2.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
41.4%
−24.4 ptssince 2009
from 65.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
46.5%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.3% in 2009
Female
53.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.7% in 2009
Foreign born
17.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.7%
−39.3 ptssince 2009
from 45.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.7%
+2.8 ptssince 2012
from 13.9% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.5%
−81.2 ptssince 2013
from 86.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.3%
+9.7 ptssince 2017
from 81.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
76.4%
+2.8 ptssince 2016
from 73.6% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
16.8%
−2.0 ptssince 2016
from 18.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Palm Desert to nearby cities

PALM DESERT VS
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PALM DESERT VS
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PALM DESERT VS
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PALM DESERT VS
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Income$73,572−5%
Home value$453,100−16%
Population52,375−2%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Palm Desert, California?

Palm Desert, California has about 51,990 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Palm Desert, California?

The typical household in Palm Desert, California earns about $77,513 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Palm Desert, California expensive?

In Palm Desert, California, the median home is worth about $542,000, and the typical rent is about $1,778 a month.

How educated are people in Palm Desert, California?

About 40.7% of adults age 25 and over in Palm Desert, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Palm Desert, California?

About 11.0% of people in Palm Desert, California live below the federal poverty line.

Has Palm Desert, California grown since 1990?

Yes, Palm Desert, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 28,738 residents, a change of about 124 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 →