Desert Palms, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Desert Palms is a small city located in California, within Riverside County. The total population is 6,579. It ranks as the 595th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Desert Palms is 77.1 years. This is 103% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 0.5% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 57.3% 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 Palms is $79,792. This is 20% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 1% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 20% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.3%. This is 25% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $567,400. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.1x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 86.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 55% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Desert Palms has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 6.6%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (89.2% vs 33.8%). The Hispanic or Latino population (6.6%) is well below the state average of 40.2%. The Asian population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

46.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 25% higher 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 95.8%. Notably, 17.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Desert Palms, 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.