City · California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, city, in Riverside County, California. Palm Desert had 53,259 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 51,163 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 51,990 (±43). GEOID 0655184.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
53,259
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 51,163 · ACS 2020-2024: 51,990 ±43
Median household income
$77,513
±$7,228 (90% margin)
California: $99,122
Median home value
$542,000
±$25,109 (90% margin)
California: $734,700
Median gross rent
$1,778
±$53 (90% margin)
California: $2,036
Where is Palm Desert and what county is it in?
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California. It covers 26.8 square miles of land, 1,911 residents per square mile in 2020.
Palm Desert is in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 2 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Palm Desert, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 53,259 people lived in Palm Desert on July 1, 2025, up 4.1% since 2020, while California shrank 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 51,163 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 51,990 (±43).
| Measure | Palm Desert | Riverside County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 51,990 ±43 | 2,478,600 | −585 |
| Households | 24,690 ±704 | 775,335 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.08 ±0.06 | 3.15 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 37,028 ±666 | 869,414 | −2,723 |
Palm Desert's population since 2000
From 41,155 in 2000 to 53,259 in 2025: up 29.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Palm Desert as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Palm Desert?
The median resident of Palm Desert is 57.5 years old; 12.8% are under 18 and 37.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 26.7%. 17.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Palm Desert | Riverside County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 ±1.5 | 37.0 | +3.0 |
| Under 18 years | 12.8% ±1.1 pts | 24.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 37.7% ±1.9 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Male | 46.5% ±1.6 pts | 50.2% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26.7% ±2.8 pts | 51.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.6% ±2.9 pts | 31.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.6% ±0.6 pts | 6.0% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±1.0 pts | 6.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.0% ±0.9 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 17.5% ±1.8 pts | 21.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 23.6% ±2.9 pts | 42.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.7% ±1.0 pts | 5.8% | – |
| With a disability | 16.7% ±1.6 pts | 12.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.5% ±1.2 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.6% ±1.1 pts | 83.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 40.7% ±2.0 pts | 25.6% | +3.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 16.3% ±1.5 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±1.5 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.6% ±1.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Palm Desert earn?
Half of Palm Desert's 24,690 households earn less than $77,513 a year (±$7,228), against $93,074 in Riverside County and $99,122 in California. In 2015-2019 it was $73,813 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 11.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Palm Desert | Riverside County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,513 ±$7,228 | $93,074 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $120,511 ±$6,929 | $118,890 | – |
| Per capita income | $57,858 ±$3,262 | $38,317 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 11.0% ±1.8 pts | 10.6% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 15.5% ±5.2 pts | 13.2% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.1% ±1.3 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.0% ±1.0 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.3% ±1.7 pts | 93.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Palm Desert?
Owners occupy 65.0% of Palm Desert's occupied homes and renters 35.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $542,000 by its owner (±$25,109). The median renter pays $1,778 a month including utilities, and 53.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Palm Desert | Riverside County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $542,000 ±$25,109 | $557,300 | +$110,765 |
| Median gross rent | $1,778 ±$53 | $1,901 | +$155 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 53.8% ±4.8 pts | 48.7% | +7.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,660 ±$171 | $2,583 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.0% ±2.2 pts | 69.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 35.0% ±2.2 pts | 30.9% | – |
| Housing units | 37,028 ±666 | 869,414 | −2,723 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 8.8% ±2.7 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 37.7% ±1.9 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.6% ±0.9 pts | 8.7% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.0% ±0.4 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.9% ±0.9 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.9% ±0.8 pts | 4.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Palm Desert building?
Builders took permits for 313 new housing units in Palm Desert in 2025 (249 in single-family houses), 5.9 per 1,000 residents against 2.6 across California.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Palm Desert work and get to work?
69.0% of Palm Desert's workers drive alone and 14.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.4%.
| Measure | Palm Desert | Riverside County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 49.3% ±2.3 pts | 61.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.4% ±1.2 pts | 6.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.0% ±5.0 pts | 73.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.3% ±5.8 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.7 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.9% ±3.1 pts | 12.3% | +5.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.0 min ±1.3 | 33.8 min | +1.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Palm Desert?
16 census tracts lie mostly in Palm Desert, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $46,538 (Tract 451.26) to $138,668 (Tract 449.22).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 449.22Riverside County | 6,817 | $138,668 |
| Tract 449.19Riverside County | 4,931 | $75,361 |
| Tract 449.27Riverside County | 4,090 | $93,125 |
| Tract 449.11Riverside County | 5,203 | $51,890 |
| Tract 449.29Riverside County | 3,895 | $65,679 |
| Tract 449.28Riverside County | 4,091 | $125,729 |
| Tract 451.17Riverside County | 3,489 | $74,052 |
| Tract 449.30Riverside County | 3,059 | $78,333 |
| Tract 451.26Riverside County | 3,059 | $46,538 |
| Tract 451.19Riverside County | 3,053 | $95,671 |
| Tract 451.18Riverside County | 2,558 | $52,292 |
| Tract 451.27Riverside County | 2,194 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Palm Desert) · Census block assignment files
How does Palm Desert compare with other places in California?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Palm Desert is the 774th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 169th-most populous of 483 in California.
Palm Desert ranks 713th of 1,037 places in California with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 169th | 483 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 70th | 469 |
| Residents per square mile | 601st | 1,077 |
| Median household income | 713th | 1,037 |
| Per capita income | 288th | 1,073 |
| Median home value | 604th | 1,054 |
| Median gross rent | 550th | 987 |
| Poverty rate | 432nd | 836 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 342nd | 988 |
| Median age | 68th | 1,075 |
| Owner-occupied share | 556th | 1,064 |
| Work from home | 449th | 822 |
| Travel time to work | 920th | 1,069 |
Palm Desert's figures with every place in California (CSV)
Every place in California, sortable · Compare Palm Desert with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Palm Desert?
4 of the 57 figures for Palm Desert on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Palm Desert are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Palm Desert.