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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Palm Desert

California · 41,155 residents · 26.777 sq mi
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The short version

Palm Desert is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $48,316. The city has grown rapidly, with population up 77% since 1990. Median home value is $176,400. With a median age of 48.0, the population is older than the US median of 35.2.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 48.0
US median: 35.2
More educated
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
More affordable
home values down 22%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
41,155
+77%since 1990
from 23,252 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
48.0
+13%since 1990
from 42.4 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K29K38K47K56K1990201020202024Palm Desert
202452K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 54.5%(1,849)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 95%(2,055)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 145%(2,074)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 194.6%(1,875)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 244.4%(1,830)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.1%(4,177)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4412.5%(5,146)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5412.8%(5,283)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 6413.4%(5,527)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 7414.6%(6,023)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 8410.1%(4,168)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over2.8%(1,148)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$48,316
−2%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $37,315 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,463
+29%since 1990
from $25,926 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
9.2%
+2.1 ptssince 1990
from 7.1% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$176,400
−22%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $172,300 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$744
−19%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $696 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
66.9%
+3.0 ptssince 1990
from 63.9% in 1990
33.1% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Palm Desert on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic91.2%(21,211)
Black1%(225)
Hispanic / Latino13.4%(3,121)
Asian1.6%(369)
2000
White, non-Hispanic77.6%(31,919)
Black1.1%(446)
Hispanic / Latino17.1%(7,031)
Asian2.5%(1,036)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican21.6%(11,252)
Spaniard0.7%(389)
Puerto Rican0.5%(259)
Cuban0.5%(240)
Honduran0.3%(151)
Guatemalan0.3%(150)
Salvadoran0.2%(124)
Venezuelan0.1%(71)
Argentine0.1%(67)
Colombian0.1%(53)
+ 5 more hispanic origin groups with data
Nicaraguan0.1%(46)
Peruvian0.1%(35)
Chilean0.1%(33)
Costa Rican0.1%(32)
Asian origin
Filipino1.3%(681)
Asian Indian0.8%(436)
Chinese0.8%(415)
Korean0.5%(283)
Japanese0.4%(215)
Vietnamese0.3%(142)
Thai0.1%(65)
Taiwanese0.1%(48)
Sri Lankan0.1%(42)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0.1%(66)
Chamorro0.1%(36)
Fijian0%(19)
Ancestry
German12.4%(6,424)
Irish12%(6,243)
English11.8%(6,144)
Italian5.6%(2,916)
American4.3%(2,213)
French3.2%(1,664)
Scottish2.6%(1,377)
Polish2.4%(1,224)
Swedish2.1%(1,087)
Norwegian1.8%(929)
Russian1.8%(920)
Danish1.3%(654)
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data
Dutch1%(499)
Arab0.9%(478)
Canadian0.9%(443)
Greek0.8%(408)
Armenian0.7%(344)
Hungarian0.7%(344)
Scotch-Irish0.7%(338)
Portuguese0.6%(300)
Welsh0.6%(297)
Swiss0.5%(273)
Lithuanian0.4%(217)
Austrian0.4%(206)
Ukrainian0.4%(189)
Lebanese0.4%(183)
Iranian0.4%(182)
Czech0.3%(177)
Bulgarian0.3%(175)
Macedonian0.3%(150)
Serbian0.2%(114)
Belgian0.2%(100)
British0.2%(97)
West Indian0.2%(94)
Croatian0.2%(88)
Australian0.2%(87)
Nigerian0.2%(85)
Egyptian0.2%(78)
Finnish0.1%(63)
Romanian0.1%(62)
Israeli0.1%(58)
Palestinian0.1%(53)
Slovak0.1%(40)
Jordanian0%(20)
Moroccan0%(18)
Brazilian0%(17)
Jamaican0%(16)
Latvian0%(11)
Slovene0%(6)
Turkish0%(6)
RANKED:Largest Mexican population · Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Italian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
31.4%
+7.8 ptssince 1990
from 23.6% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
88.9%
+2.7 ptssince 1990
from 86.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
11.3%
+3.4 ptssince 1990
from 7.9% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.1 min
−19%since 1990
from 16.3 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.6%(4,080)
Married61.9%(10,274)
Widowed3.6%(599)
Divorced9.9%(1,639)
Women 15+
Never married16%(3,015)
Married55.6%(10,473)
Widowed13%(2,442)
Divorced15.4%(2,909)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Palm Desert, California?

Palm Desert, California has about 41,155 residents according to the 2000 Census.

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

The typical household in Palm Desert, California earns about $48,316 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 $176,400, and the typical rent is about $744 a month.

How educated are people in Palm Desert, California?

About 31.4% 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 9.2% 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 17,903 residents, a change of about 77 percent over that period.

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

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