Population 52,621 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Palm Desert
Household size in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 3.35 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.10 | 3.43 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 3.42 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.13 | 3.34 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.00 | −0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Palm Desert are small: just 2.13 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 20 have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 50.9 | 33.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.9 | 34.6 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 53.2 | 35.9 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.7 | 37.0 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +3.4 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Palm Desert skews older: half of its residents are older than 52.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 50.9, as it has nationally. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 21 are older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.7% | 15.2% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 15.7% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 14.4% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 14.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Palm Desert than nationally: 8.7%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has risen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Palm Desert
Renters in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1% | 32.3% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 36.0% | 36.6% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.4% | 36.7% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 35.1% | 34.2% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.9 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Palm Desert is about as common as it is nationally: 35.1% of households rent, against 34.8%. More than four in ten owners (44.9%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the west and least common in the northeast. The renter share is up 4.9 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 35.8% | 11.8% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 38.1% | 10.9% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 36.2% | 9.4% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.7% | 7.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −8.0 pts | −4.0 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Palm Desert: 27.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 8.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1983 | 1983 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1984 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1984 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1986 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Palm Desert is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The picture is much the same across the Riverside area. Newer construction is concentrated in the north, while the south has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,324 | $1,287 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,274 | $1,332 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,484 | $1,549 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,910 | $2,083 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$585 | +$796 | +$931 | +$606 |
The median renter in Palm Desert pays $1,910 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in the Riverside area overall ($2,083). Rent has climbed $585 a month since 2006–10, up 44%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 35.1% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Palm Desert
Bachelor's degrees in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.7% | 19.2% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.6% | 19.4% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 37.2% | 21.2% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.4% | 24.0% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +4.8 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a bit more common in Palm Desert than nationally: 39.4% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 4.7 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the west.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.8% | 77.9% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.0% | 78.6% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.5% | 80.6% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.4% | 82.5% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +4.6 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Palm Desert is above the national rate: 93.4% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Palm Desert
| Period | Palm Desert | Riverside area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.3% | 11.4% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.7% | 14.4% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 6.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −4.6 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Palm Desert than nationally: unemployment was 7.0%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.3 points, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Palm Desert compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Desert | 2.13 | 52.7 | 8.7% | 35.1% | 27.7% | 1985 | $1,910 | 39.4% | 93.4% | 7.0% |
| Indian Wells | 2.05 | 64.7 | 1.9% | 17.8% | 45.8% | 1987 | $2,093 | 62.1% | 96.7% | 7.7% |
| Rancho Mirage | 2.03 | 63.3 | 6.9% | 18.0% | 38.0% | 1987 | $1,978 | 45.9% | 93.6% | 9.0% |
| Desert Palms | 1.72 | 77.5 | 2.8% | 13.6% | 22.8% | 2000 | $2,709 | 44.2% | 95.6% | 4.0% |
| Thousand Palms | 2.95 | 42.7 | 15.3% | 25.1% | 24.6% | 1988 | $1,746 | 25.7% | 83.5% | 5.3% |
| La Quinta | 2.49 | 50.1 | 9.0% | 24.1% | 28.4% | 1996 | $2,012 | 40.2% | 92.3% | 7.1% |
| Indio | 3.00 | 40.3 | 13.1% | 35.1% | 12.5% | 1990 | $1,768 | 19.8% | 74.2% | 5.1% |
| Cathedral City | 2.95 | 42.3 | 12.8% | 33.8% | 12.0% | 1987 | $1,746 | 22.0% | 78.5% | 6.3% |
| Valerie | 2.13 | 49.3 | 8.0% | 35.2% | 47.3% | 1993 | $2,301 | 35.4% | 67.0% | 10.7% |
| Coachella | 3.66 | 34.3 | 14.0% | 35.2% | 3.3% | 1995 | $1,555 | 8.3% | 56.1% | 9.3% |
| Vista Santa Rosa | 3.25 | 40.2 | 15.2% | 26.1% | 27.1% | 1991 | $1,857 | 20.4% | 74.2% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bluffton, SC · Campbell, CA · Davis, CA · Edina, MN · Encinitas, CA · Opa-Locka, FL · Morristown, TN · Portage, MI · Poway, CA · Princeton, FL
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Palm Desert. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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