Palm Desert, CA
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Palm Desert, California Summary

Life in Palm Desert research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Palm Desert over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Palm Desert:

  • The population in Palm Desert is 51,551.

  • The median home value in Palm Desert is $546,961.

  • The median income in Palm Desert is $79,508.

  • The cost of living in Palm Desert is 134 which is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median rent in Palm Desert is $1,717.

  • The unemployment rate in Palm Desert is 6.1%.

  • The poverty rate in Palm Desert is 11.3%.

  • The average high in Palm Desert is 81.2° and the average low is 52.0°.

Palm Desert SnackAbility

8
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
8/10
Housing
9
Affordability
4
Diversity
8.5
Safety
5
Amenities
9
Education
8.5
Commute
8.5

Palm Desert, CA Crime Report

Crime in Palm Desert summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Palm Desert. Key points include:

  • There were 1,645 total crimes in Palm Desert in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Palm Desert is 3,151.0 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Palm Desert is 323.7 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Palm Desert is 2,827.3 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Palm Desert is 48.69% above the national average.

1,645
Total Crimes
48.69%
Above National Average

Crime In Palm Desert Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Palm Desert
/ 100k People
California
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 1,645 3,151.0 2,564.5 2,119.2
Violent Crime 169 323.7 486.0 359.0
Murder 0 0.0 4.5 5.0
Robbery 41 78.5 119.1 61.0
Aggravated Assault 117 224.1 325.8 256.0
Property Crime 1,476 2,827.3 2,078.4 1,760.0
Burglary 233 446.3 305.8 229.0
Larceny 1,129 2,162.6 1,345.2 1,272.0
Car Theft 114 218.4 427.5 259.0

Palm Desert, CA Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Palm Desert summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Palm Desert. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around California. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Palm Desert is 134 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Palm Desert is 1.3x higher than the national average.

  • The median home value in Palm Desert is $546,961.

  • The median income in Palm Desert is $79,508.

134
Palm Desert's Overall Cost Of Living
1.3x
Higher Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Palm Desert Comparison Table

Living Expense Palm Desert California National Average
Overall 134 141 100
Services 111 110 100
Groceries 117 112 100
Health 106 110 100
Housing 181 195 100
Transportation 128 125 100
Utilities 105 128 100

Palm Desert, CA Weather

  • The average high in Palm Desert is 81.2° and the average low is 52.0°.

  • There are 18.0 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 10.0 inches of precipitation each year with 1.7 inches of snow.

StatPalm Desert
Average Annual High81.2
Average Annual Low52.0
Annual Precipitation Days18.0
Average Annual Precipitation10.0
Average Annual Snowfall1.7
81.2°
Average High
18.0
Days of Rain

Palm Desert, CA Photos

Modern Art Display
Source: Wikipedia User BrendelSignature at Engli | GFDL

Rankings for Palm Desert in California

Locations Around Palm Desert

Map Of Palm Desert, CA

Best Places Around Palm Desert

1

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2

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Population 38,299

3

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Population 17,375

4

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Population 8,074

5

Thousand Palms, CA
Population 7,662

6

Indian Wells, CA
Population 4,830

7

Indio, CA
Population 90,669

8

Coachella, CA
Population 42,594

9

Palm Springs, CA
Population 44,998

Palm Desert Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Palm Desert

The current population in Palm Desert is 51,551. The population has increased 6.2% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 51,551 0.5%
2022 51,290 0.4%
2021 51,081 -3.8%
2020 53,087 1.0%
2019 52,575 0.9%
2018 52,124 0.9%
2017 51,675 1.2%
2016 51,045 0.9%
2015 50,565 1.2%
2014 49,953 1.3%
2013 49,306 0.7%
2012 48,959 0.4%
2011 48,769 0.5%
2010 48,534 -

Race / Ethnicity in Palm Desert

White
64.3% (33,161)
African American
2.1% (1,067)
American Indian
0.1% (73)
Asian
4.1% (2,135)
Hawaiian
0.1% (43)
Other
0.2% (94)
Two Or More
3.0% (1,549)
Hispanic
26.0% (13,429)

Palm Desert is:

  • 64.3% White with 33,161 White residents.

  • 2.1% African American with 1,067 African American residents.

  • 0.1% American Indian with 73 American Indian residents.

  • 4.1% Asian with 2,135 Asian residents.

  • 0.1% Hawaiian with 43 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.2% Other with 94 Other residents.

  • 3.0% Two Or More with 1,549 Two Or More residents.

  • 26.0% Hispanic with 13,429 Hispanic residents.

Race Palm Desert CA USA
White 64.3% 34.6% 58.2%
African American 2.1% 5.3% 12.0%
American Indian 0.1% 0.3% 0.5%
Asian 4.1% 15.1% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.1% 0.3% 0.2%
Other 0.2% 0.5% 0.5%
Two Or More 3.0% 4.1% 3.9%
Hispanic 26.0% 39.8% 19.0%

Gender in Palm Desert

Female
52.7% (27,144)
Male
47.3% (24,406)
  • Palm Desert is 52.7% female with 27,144 female residents.

  • Palm Desert is 47.3% male with 24,406 male residents.

Gender Palm Desert CA USA
Female 52.7% 50.0% 50.5%
Male 47.3% 50.0% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Palm Desert for adults over 25

  • 2.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed < 9th grade.

  • 5.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed 9-12th grade.

  • 18.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed high school / ged.

  • 26.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed some college.

  • 9.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed associate's degree.

  • 24.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed bachelor's degree.

  • 10.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed master's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed professional degree.

  • 2.0% of adults in Palm Desert completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
2.0% (1,031)
9-12th Grade
5.0% (2,577)
High School / GED
18.0% (9,279)
Some College
26.0% (13,403)
Associate's Degree
9.0% (4,639)
Bachelor's Degree
24.0% (12,372)
Master's Degree
10.0% (5,155)
Professional Degree
4.0% (2,062)
Doctorate Degree
2.0% (1,031)
Education Palm Desert CA USA
< 9th Grade 2.0% 8.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 5.0% 7.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 18.0% 20.0% 26.0%
Some College 26.0% 20.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 9.0% 8.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 24.0% 22.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 10.0% 10.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 4.0% 3.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 2.0% 2.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Palm Desert, California

  • 5.2% of households in Palm Desert earn Less than $10,000.

  • 4.2% of households in Palm Desert earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 6.8% of households in Palm Desert earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 7.1% of households in Palm Desert earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 11.0% of households in Palm Desert earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 14.1% of households in Palm Desert earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 11.4% of households in Palm Desert earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 15.2% of households in Palm Desert earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 10.6% of households in Palm Desert earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 14.5% of households in Palm Desert earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
5.2% (267,949)
$10,000 to $14,999
4.2% (216,921)
$15,000 to $24,999
6.8% (350,790)
$25,000 to $34,999
7.1% (366,589)
$35,000 to $49,999
11.0% (566,431)
$50,000 to $74,999
14.1% (729,122)
$75,000 to $99,999
11.4% (585,433)
$100,000 to $149,999
15.2% (781,004)
$150,000 to $199,999
10.6% (545,507)
$200,000 or more
14.5% (745,349)
Income Palm Desert CA USA
Less than $10,000 5.2% 4.4% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 4.2% 3.0% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 6.8% 5.2% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 7.1% 5.5% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 11.0% 8.4% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 14.1% 13.3% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 11.4% 11.8% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 15.2% 17.9% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 10.6% 11.1% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 14.5% 19.4% 12.6%

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