Palm Desert, CA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze population trends, housing costs, and the local economy by exploring Map AI.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,379 | 38,909,900 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 1793.1 | 237.3 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 0.15% | 0.19% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 58.6 | 35.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 21,841 | 13,415,389 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Palm Desert grew by 6.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 46,723 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Palm Desert has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $82,712 | $96,718 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.87% | 6.01% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Palm Desert is about 14% lower than in California.
Housing
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $445,040 | $642,203 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,728 | $1,955 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 64.6% | 55.8% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Palm Desert is about 21.5 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,728 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Palm Desert spend about 35 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 148 hours, about 6.2 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 17.7 | 23.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 35.5 | 47.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 148 | 197 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,582 | $6,099 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 15.5% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 45,005 | 16,509 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 4,000 | 2,449 | 1,355 |
The average commute time in Palm Desert is 18 minutes, shorter than the 24 minutes in California.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Palm Desert has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.6% | 33.0% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.12 | 2.85 | 2.54 |
Health
Palm Desert has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 15.3% | 16.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 10.4% | 13.9% | 19.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Palm Desert, California.
What is the population of Palm Desert, California?
The population of Palm Desert, California is 48,379, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Palm Desert, California?
The population density of Palm Desert, California is 1793.1 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Palm Desert, California?
The median household income in Palm Desert, California is $82,712, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Palm Desert, California?
The median home price in Palm Desert, California is $445,040, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Palm Desert, California?
The unemployment rate in Palm Desert, California is 5.9%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.