At a Glance
Median Income
$79,508
$57,793 per capita
Home Value
$491,600
Zillow: $549,226
Median Rent
$1,717/mo
34.6% of income on rent
Violent Crime
253/100K
3,436/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
39.9%
92.7% high school+
Unemployment
3.0%
7.7% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
35.0%
10.7% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
76°F
330 sunny days/yr
How Palm Desert Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Palm Desert's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Palm Desert a Good Place to Live?
B
3.2 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Palm Desert residents earn a median household income of $79,508 , which is 6% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $57,793. The unemployment rate stands at 3.0% (17% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 7.7% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 86,446 business establishments, including 4,533 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Palm Desert is $491,600 , 74% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $549,226. Median rent is $1,717/month, with 34.6% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 110.7 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1985.
Safety & Crime
Palm Desert reports 253 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 33% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,436/100K. The murder rate is 5.6/100K.
Education
39.9% of adults in Palm Desert hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(18% above the national average).
92.7% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Palm Desert has an average annual temperature of 76°F (24°C).
Winters average 59°F in January while summers reach 94°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 2.9 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Data Overview
People
Population51,551
Median Age56.7 yrs
Density1,925/mi²
Male / Female47% / 53%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans7.4%
Economy
A
Median Income$79,508
Per Capita$57,793
Unemployment3.0%
Poverty7.7%
County GDP$134,757M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,149
Housing
B
Home Value$491,600
Rent$1,717
Ownership64.4%
Zillow$549,226
Housing Units36,758
Rent Burden34.6%
Crime
F
Violent253/100K
Property3,436/100K
Murder5.6/100K
Assault190/100K
Burglary629/100K
Health
Obesity35.0%
Diabetes9.2%
Smoking10.7%
Heart Disease4.9%
Premature Death7,817/100K
Climate
Avg Temp76°F
Sunny Days330/yr
Rain2.9 in/yr
AQI48 (Good)
Elevation180 ft
Education
A
Bachelor's+39.9%
High School+92.7%
Graduate+14.8%
School Score4.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 49% / D 48%
Commute22 min
Broadband90.6%
Internet Speed128 Mbps
EV Stations31
Libraries60
Did You Know?
Palm Desert was founded in 1973.
The median home in Palm Desert was built in 1985.
The nearest airport is Palm Springs International (10 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.448 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very High" by FEMA.
16.1% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 128 Mbps.
There are 4,533 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 341 fatal vehicle crashes.
910 declared natural disasters on record.
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