Palm Desert, CA Local Data & Statistics

State: CA

Total population: 51,990 Household income: $77,513 Rent: $1,778

Overview

Total population

51,990

Rent

$1,778

Year built

1985

Household income

$77,513

Per capita income

$57,858

Poverty rate

11%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

60.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

California

Total population

51,990

Adults over 25

42,226

Total households

24,690

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$77,513

Per capita income

$57,858

Poverty rate

11%

Unemployment rate

5.1%

Rent over 30% of income

60.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,778

Year built

1985

Households that rent

35%

Households that own

65%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

66.2%

Black

1.7%

Asian

4.7%

Two or more races

20.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

26.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

73.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

85.1%

Commute time to work

21 mins

Work from home

14.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.7%

High school graduate or GED

18.5%

Some college or associate degree

9.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

40.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Palm Desert, CA with: California United States

Palm Desert, CA

Total population51,990

Rent$1,778

Year built1985

Household income$77,513

Per capita income$57,858

Poverty rate11%

Unemployment rate5.1%

California State

Total population39,287,377

Rent$2,036

Year built1976

Household income$99,122

Per capita income$49,513

Poverty rate12%

Unemployment rate5.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityPalm Desert, CA	StateCalifornia	CountryUnited States
Total population	51,990	39,287,377	334,922,499
Rent	$1,778	$2,036	$1,413
Year built	1985	1976	1980
Household income	$77,513	$99,122	$80,734
Per capita income	$57,858	$49,513	$44,673
Poverty rate	11%	12%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	5.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Palm Desert, CA, California and United States →

Summary for Palm Desert, CA

Palm Desert is located in California.

Rent & Income

In Palm Desert, the typical monthly rent is $1,778 and the typical household income is $77,513. Rent here is lower than California and higher than the U.S., and household income is lower than California and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 11%, which is lower than in both California and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 35% of households. About 60.8% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 40.7% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 5.1%, which is similar to California and higher than the national rate.

Palm Desert, CA — Rent vs Household Income

Palm Desert, CA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Palm Desert, CA compares in California (180 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,778	40 / 180	from lower rent	$1,148 – $3,501
Household income	$77,513	151 / 180	from higher income	$57,719 – $234,707
Poverty rate	11%	99 / 180	from lower poverty	4.1% – 26.5%
Unemployment rate	5.1%	115 / 180	from lower unemployment	2.9% – 18.2%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in California with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Palm Desert, CA

Rent

In rent comparisons, Palm Desert comes in 40th out of 180 large places. Across California, rents vary from $1,148 in Porterville, CA to $3,501 in Cupertino, CA.

Household income

Palm Desert ranks 151st among 180 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $57,719 in Hemet, CA to $234,707 in Cupertino, CA.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Palm Desert in 99th place among 180 significant areas. Across California, poverty ranges between 4.1% and 26.5%.

Unemployment rate

Palm Desert places 115th among 180 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.9% to 18.2%.

💰 Rent in Palm Desert, CA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,778 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Palm Desert, CA

Annual Household Income: $77,513

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Palm Desert, CA

Estimated Rate: 11%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Palm Desert, CA

In Palm Desert, CA, households that rent: 8,651 (35%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	8,651	35%
Owner-Occupied	16,039	65%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Palm Desert, CA

In Palm Desert, CA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,264 (60.8%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,264	60.8%
Other renter households	3,387	39.2%
Total renter households	8,651	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Palm Desert, CA

Less than High School: 13,373 people (31.7%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,819 people (18.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,852 people (9.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 17,182 people (40.7%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 42,226

📊 Unemployment Rate in Palm Desert, CA

Estimated Rate: 5.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Watsonville, CA51,968 Cathedral City, CA52,047 Florissant, MO51,915 La Crosse, WI51,791 Joplin, MO52,218 West New York, NJ51,683 Lincoln, CA51,629 Placentia, CA52,384 Battle Creek, MI52,392 Dunwoody, GA51,563

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.