United States › California › Palm Desert CITY · 2020 ACS
Palm Desert California · 51,163 residents · 26.8 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS 2024 ACS
The short version
Palm Desert is a city of 51,163 people in California. The median age is 56.1, about 17 years above the US median. Growth has run 24% since 2000, or 10,008 more people. The typical home is worth $361,200, having more than doubled since 2000. That trails the California median by roughly 18%. The average commute runs 20 minutes.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 56.1
US median: 38.8
More educated
38% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 36%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 48.0 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 29K 38K 47K 56K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Palm Desert Age distribution, 2020
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $64,295
−11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $48,316 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $33,463 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 37.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Public administration 3.1%
Transportation & warehousing 2.8%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.6%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.5%
Education & health services 0.3%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$361,200
+36%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $176,400 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,353
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $744 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 66.9% in 2000
35.7% rent
from 2.09 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 7.3 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 77.6%(31,919)
Hispanic / Latino 17.1%(7,031)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 63.6%(32,535)
Hispanic / Latino 26%(13,315)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 4 more hispanic origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 37 more ancestry groups with data from 31.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 88.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 11.3% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.1 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 78.5% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 8.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 51.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 33.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 13.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 30.2%(6,415)
Women 15+
Never married 23.4%(5,932)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 7.8%(294)
Gulf War (1990s) 6.2%(236)
Share of the 3,785 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
Drill deeper
Places similar to Palm Desert Head to head
Compare Palm Desert to nearby cities PALM DESERT VS
Rancho Mirage
Income $107,364 +67%
Home value $807,200 +123%
Population 17,876 −66%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALM DESERT VS
Indio
Income $77,167 +20%
Home value $458,400 +27%
Population 94,269 +77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALM DESERT VS
La Quinta
Income $99,250 +54%
Home value $661,600 +83%
Population 39,440 −26%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PALM DESERT VS
Cathedral City
Income $73,572 +14%
Home value $453,100 +25%
Population 52,375 −2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Palm Desert, California? Palm Desert, California has about 51,163 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Palm Desert, California? The typical household in Palm Desert, California earns about $64,295 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 $361,200, and the typical rent is about $1,353 a month.
How educated are people in Palm Desert, California? About 38.0% 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 12.7% 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 27,911 residents, a change of about 120 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 