Palmdale, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Palmdale, California had a total population of 164,634, the 32nd largest city in California, with a median household income of $81,770, which is 18% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 15.7%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 8.3% is notably above the national average.
Palmdale Quick Facts
How Palmdale Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 165,487 | 164,634 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | $81,151 | $81,770 | +0.8% |
| Median home value | $435,300 | $471,000 | +8.2% |
How Palmdale Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Palmdale Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in Los Angeles County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 3,857,263 | $81,939 | 16.6% | $921,200 |
| Long Beach | 455,548 | $87,430 | 14.8% | $806,600 |
| Santa Clarita | 230,221 | $123,062 | 7.4% | $784,700 |
| Glendale | 190,748 | $88,393 | 12.9% | $1,102,300 |
| Lancaster | 169,169 | $81,511 | 15.6% | $446,600 |
| Pomona | 147,943 | $79,479 | 14.3% | $593,800 |
| Torrance | 142,130 | $116,217 | 7.8% | $1,074,700 |
| Pasadena | 136,969 | $105,192 | 13.3% | $1,093,300 |
| East Los Angeles | 111,647 | $68,741 | 17.3% | $643,100 |
| Downey | 110,939 | $90,699 | 9.0% | $796,600 |
Cities Similar to Palmdale
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster | 169,169 | $81,511 | $446,600 | 20.0% | 15.6% |
| Salinas | 161,761 | $91,908 | $654,100 | 16.5% | 13.6% |
| Garden Grove | 170,964 | $92,174 | $814,100 | 25.3% | 12.3% |
| Pomona | 147,943 | $79,479 | $593,800 | 20.3% | 14.3% |
| Ontario | 180,547 | $88,941 | $607,600 | 22.5% | 12.4% |
Population Overview
Palmdale is a major urban center located in California, within Los Angeles County. The total population is 164,634. It ranks as the 32nd most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Palmdale is 33.0 years. This is 13% lower than the state median of 37.9 years. With 29.5% of the population under 18, Palmdale has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Palmdale is $81,770. This is 18% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 1% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.7%. This is 31% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 8.3%. This is 26% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $471,000. Housing costs are 36% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.8x. 66.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Palmdale is Hispanic or Latino, making up 63.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 15.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (15.5%) is well below the state average of 33.8%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (12.8% vs 5.2%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (63.5% vs 40.2%). The Asian population (4.6%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
17.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 54% 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 77.2%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Palmdale, 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.
Free data download: Get all California city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Palmdale, California?
Palmdale, California has a population of 164,634 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Palmdale, CA?
The median household income in Palmdale is $81,770, which is 1% higher than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Palmdale, CA?
The poverty rate in Palmdale is 15.7%. This means approximately 25,693 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Palmdale, California?
Palmdale's population is 15.5% White, 12.8% Black, 63.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 4.6% Asian.
What is the median home value in Palmdale, CA?
The median home value in Palmdale is $471,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.8x.
How educated is Palmdale, California?
17.1% of adults (25+) in Palmdale hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 5.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.