City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Cathedral City, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Cathedral City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

52,047
Residents
$67,031
Median income
$420,700
Median home
$2,201
Median rent (state)

Cathedral City - the verdict

Nationally, Cathedral City sits in the 46th percentile for household income and the 46th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

46th
percentile, household income
79th
percentile, home value
86th
percentile, median rent
46th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Cathedral City, CA

Cathedral City is a small city in California, home to 52,047 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Cathedral City brings in $67,031 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Cathedral City's housing stock carries a median value of $420,700, and the median resident age is 40.9 years. Educational attainment runs 25.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 90 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 37% from five years earlier. Cathedral City reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 1503.8 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, California scores 110.7 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $2,201 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $275 across California, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Cathedral City workers runs 18.2 minutes, with 73.8% driving alone and 8.8% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 99.9 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

52,047 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$67,031 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Cathedral City compare to other US cities?

Cathedral City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 79% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% pricier than other cities
Safety 46% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just California and the picture shifts: Cathedral City ranks #144 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Cathedral City against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of California's city distribution

Among the 1,450 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Cathedral City ranks #500 - the 65th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Cathedral City only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#961 of 1,338
28th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#734 of 1,458
47th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#834 of 1,343
38th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#500 of 1,450
65th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#728 of 1,458
50th percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

46thIncome percentile
46thSafety percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income · 46th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Cathedral City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Cathedral City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Cathedral City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Cathedral City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$420,700 21st percentile more affordable than 21% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Cathedral City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Cathedral City, CA Cathedral City, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Cathedral City, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Cathedral City, CA median $67,031/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Cathedral City, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Cathedral City, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
52,047
Median Income
$67,031
Median Home Value
$420,700
Median Age
40.9
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
57.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1503.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
283.3
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1220.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
51,500 residents52,000 residents52,500 residents53,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 51,623 residents 52,375 residents ▲ +1.5%
Cathedral City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
90
housing units authorized
Single-Family
67
detached homes
Multifamily
23
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 144
2020 251
2021 220
2022 57
2023 99
2024 90

Permit volume decreased 37% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
18.2 minutes
Drive Alone
73.8%
Carpool
13.5%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
8.8%
Other
1.7%

Based on 24,127 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Cathedral City sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,201/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
99.9 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Watsonville
51,968 people
Placentia
52,384 people
Lincoln
51,629 people
Palm Desert
51,551 people
Paramount
52,546 people
Novato
52,689 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Cathedral City's 52,047 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kendale Lakes, FL
52,141 people
Wheaton, MD
52,172 people
Florissant, MO
51,915 people
Joplin, MO
52,218 people
La Crosse, WI
51,791 people
Catalina Foothills, AZ
51,756 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Cathedral City's $67,031 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

East Globe, AZ
$67,031 median income
Zearing, IA
$67,031 median income
Westfir, OR
$67,031 median income
Nellis AFB, NV
$67,036 median income
Breesport, NY
$67,043 median income
Pollock, SD
$67,019 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Cathedral City, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Cathedral City, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 42.0% 6.2% 19.9% 27.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 58.9% White 42.0% Black or African American 1.9% Asian 6.2% American Indian 2.4% Native Hawaiian 0.2% Some other race 19.9% Two or more races 27.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Cathedral City compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Cathedral City (this city) 52,047 $67,031
Watsonville 51,968 $74,785
Placentia 52,384 $110,575
Lincoln 51,629 $108,108
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Cathedral City, CA?

What is the population of Cathedral City, CA? +

Cathedral City, CA has a population of 52,047 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Cathedral City, CA? +

Median annual household income in Cathedral City runs $67,031, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Cathedral City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Cathedral City; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Cathedral City, CA safe? +

Cathedral City has a total crime rate of 1503.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Cathedral City, CA? +

A typical home in Cathedral City is worth $420,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.