Desert Edge, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Desert Edge is a small community located in California, within Riverside County. The total population is 3,778. It ranks as the 723rd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Desert Edge is 63.7 years. This is 68% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 12.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 23.5% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Desert Edge is $37,429. This is 62% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 54% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.8%. This is 48% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $76,300. Housing costs are 90% lower than the state median of $734,700. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.0x, Desert Edge is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 89.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 60% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Desert Edge is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 28.4%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (63.8% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (1.9%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

17.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 53% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 86.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Desert Edge, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.