Palm Desert, California Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Palm Desert is a mid-sized community located in California, within Riverside County. The total population is 51,990. It ranks as the 181st most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palm Desert is 57.5 years. This is 52% higher than the state median of 37.9 years. Only 12.8% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 20.6% 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 Palm Desert is $77,513. This is 22% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 4% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.0%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.4%. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $542,000. Housing costs are 26% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio of 7.0x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 65.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Palm Desert is White (non-Hispanic), making up 63.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 26.7%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (63.5% vs 33.8%). The Black or African American population (1.6%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (4.7%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

40.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% 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 93.5%. Notably, 16.3% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palm Desert, 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.