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Thousand Palms, California Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Thousand Palms, California had a total population of 7,720, the 549th largest community in California, with a median household income of $77,000, which is 22% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.2%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Thousand Palms Quick Facts

Population 7,720
Median Household Income $77,000
Median Home Value $268,700
Poverty Rate 9.2%
Unemployment Rate 5.2%
Median Age 36.8 years
Homeownership Rate 72.8%
Affordability Ratio 3.5x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 21.6%
High School Graduation Rate 81.5%
Diversity Index 47/100
Population 7,720 549th of 1,570
Median Income $77,000 below average
Poverty Rate 9.2% 26% lower than national
Median Home Value $268,700 bottom 20%

How Thousand Palms Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population7,6627,720+0.8%
Median household income$80,280$77,000-4.1%
Median home value$260,500$268,700+3.1%

How Thousand Palms Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.7%
$25K-$50K 18.5%
$50K-$100K 30.0%
$100K+ 30.8%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
2.8%
$10K-$15K
6.8%
$15K-$20K
2.6%
$20K-$25K
8.4%
$25K-$30K
4.0%
$30K-$35K
2.4%
$35K-$40K
1.0%
$40K-$45K
9.2%
$45K-$50K
2.0%
$50K-$60K
5.9%
$60K-$75K
4.3%
$75K-$100K
19.8%
$100K-$125K
9.1%
$125K-$150K
12.4%
$150K-$200K
7.2%
$200K+
2.0%

Employment

5.2% Unemployment Rate State: 6.6%|National: 5.2%
57.5% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 72.8%
Renter 27.2%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.5x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $1,495/mo 23.3% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

47out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 70 | National average: 61

Education

Thousand Palms Rankings in California

#549 Population of 1,570
#875 Median Income of 1,375
#912 Education of 1,570
#1191 Home Value of 1,376

Other Cities in Riverside County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Riverside 319,069 $91,045 12.2% $584,800
Moreno Valley 211,666 $93,222 11.7% $503,700
Corona 159,670 $109,242 8.7% $700,700
Murrieta 112,064 $114,081 5.4% $639,800
Temecula 111,167 $121,063 7.3% $679,700
Menifee 110,305 $93,454 9.5% $537,300
Jurupa Valley 107,011 $97,550 11.0% $574,600
Indio 91,950 $77,167 11.5% $458,400
Hemet 91,326 $57,719 14.9% $352,200
Perris 80,511 $88,911 10.7% $474,700

Cities Similar to Thousand Palms

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
California Polytechnic State University7,915N/A$564,70077.5%7.5%
South San Gabriel7,923$76,806$690,40022.9%6.8%
Ojai7,577$82,656$1,016,20047.8%8.2%
Escalon7,451$81,467$471,20017.2%8.8%
Garnet7,382$72,694$267,90011.4%11.2%

Population Overview

Thousand Palms is a small city located in California, within Riverside County. The total population is 7,720. It ranks as the 549th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.

Age Demographics

The median age in Thousand Palms is 36.8 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Thousand Palms is $77,000. This is 22% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 5% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.2%. This is 23% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 21% lower than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $268,700. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 72.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 55.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Thousand Palms is Hispanic or Latino, making up 66.5% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 29.6%. The Black or African American population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (66.5% vs 40.2%). The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.

Education

21.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% 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 81.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Thousand 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Thousand Palms, California?

Thousand Palms, California has a population of 7,720 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Thousand Palms, CA?

The median household income in Thousand Palms is $77,000, which is 5% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Thousand Palms, CA?

The poverty rate in Thousand Palms is 9.2%. This means approximately 713 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Thousand Palms, California?

Thousand Palms's population is 29.6% White, 0.3% Black, 66.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Thousand Palms, CA?

The median home value in Thousand Palms is $268,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x.

How educated is Thousand Palms, California?

21.6% of adults (25+) in Thousand Palms hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 6.6% hold a graduate or professional degree.