City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Desert Center, CA

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

167
Residents
$72,857
Median income
$221,200
Median home
$2,201
Median rent (state)

Desert Center - the verdict

Desert Center ranks in the 53rd percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

53rd
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
86th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Desert Center, CA

Desert Center is a small town in California, home to 167 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $72,857 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 14.0%. Typical homes in Desert Center are valued around $221,200, and the median resident age is 49.2 years. Educational attainment runs 15.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 33.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,201 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts California's average monthly utility costs around $275 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 99.9 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

167 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$72,857 /yr

Poverty 14.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Desert Center compare to other US cities?

Where Desert Center sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 53% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

California-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Desert Center near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,343 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Desert Center ranks #1,223 - the 9th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Desert Center only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#878 of 1,338
34th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#734 of 1,458
47th percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,223 of 1,343
9th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#324 of 1,450
77th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,047 of 1,458
28th 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.

53rdIncome percentile

53rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Desert Center's home value compares nationally

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

$221,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $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. Desert Center $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 - Desert Center, CA Desert Center, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Desert Center, 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 Desert Center, CA median $72,857/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%
Desert Center, 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 Desert Center, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 33.6%

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

Population
167
Median Income
$72,857
Median Home Value
$221,200
Median Age
49.2
Poverty Rate
14.0%
Labor force participation
33.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.0%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
58.8%
Carpool
5.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
29.4%
Work from Home
5.9%

Based on 51 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 Desert Center 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

Hardwick
167 people
Macdoel
168 people
Monmouth
168 people
Ruth
165 people
Tecopa
169 people
Centerville CDP (Fresno County)
170 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Desert Center's 167 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Antoine, AR
167 people
Lincoln, IN
167 people
Poneto, IN
167 people
Rembrandt, IA
167 people
Weston, IA
167 people
Harveyville, KS
167 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Desert Center's $72,857 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Atkinson, NE
$72,857 median income
Chadwicks, NY
$72,861 median income
Four Corners, TX
$72,853 median income
Wrightsboro, NC
$72,867 median income
Kennewick, WA
$72,867 median income
Iowa, LA
$72,868 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Desert Center, 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 Desert Center, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.7% 7.2% 25.8% 9.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 37.1% White 55.7% Black or African American 7.2% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 25.8% Two or more races 9.6% 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 Desert Center 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
Desert Center (this city) 167 $72,857
Hardwick 167 N/A
Macdoel 168 N/A
Monmouth 168 $40,673
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Desert Center, CA?

What is the population of Desert Center, CA? +

167 people live in Desert Center, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Desert Center, CA? +

Median annual household income in Desert Center runs $72,857, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Desert Center? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Desert Center; 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.

What is the median home value in Desert Center, CA? +

Homes in Desert Center carry a median value of $221,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.