United States › California › Palmdale CITY · 2020 ACS
Palmdale California · 169,450 residents · 106 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
Palmdale is home to 169,450 people in California. 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 33% national rate. Growth has run 45% since 2000, or 52,780 more people. The median age is 33.1, younger than the US median of 38.8. Getting to work takes 42 minutes on average. 25% of locals were born outside the United States.
At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 33.1
US median: 38.8
Less educated
16% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 77%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 28.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
59K 89K 119K 149K 180K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Palmdale Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $65,444
−7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,941 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $16,384 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 34.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 15.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 6.7%
Public administration 2.9%
Transportation & warehousing 2.6%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0.8%
Education & health services 0.6%
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$302,800
+77%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $113,600 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$1,333
+41%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $630 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 71.0% in 2000
33.5% rent
from 3.67 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.7 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 41%(47,831)
Hispanic / Latino 37.7%(43,991)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 17%(28,739)
Hispanic / Latino 61.8%(104,742)
No data for the years selected.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Hispanic origin
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data Asian origin
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data Ancestry
+ 41 more ancestry groups with data from 13.3% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 74.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 37.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 73.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 13.4% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 62.7% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 25.9% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 24.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 18.8% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 43.3%(26,090)
Women 15+
Never married 39.1%(25,186)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 18.8% 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) 22.9%(1,252)
Gulf War (1990s) 20.7%(1,128)
Share of the 5,457 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.
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Drill deeper
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Frequently asked
How many people live in Palmdale, California? Palmdale, California has about 169,450 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Palmdale, California? The typical household in Palmdale, California earns about $65,444 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Palmdale, California expensive? In Palmdale, California, the median home is worth about $302,800, and the typical rent is about $1,333 a month.
How educated are people in Palmdale, California? About 15.7% of adults age 25 and over in Palmdale, California hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Palmdale, California? About 15.8% of people in Palmdale, California live below the federal poverty line.
Has Palmdale, California grown since 1990? Yes, Palmdale, California has grown since 1990. The population has added about 100,533 residents, a change of about 146 percent over that period.
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