Palm Desert, California Income Statistics
Palm Desert Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Palm Desert Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $82,219 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $64,881 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.1% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 19.9% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 16.8% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Palm Desert is about 17% lower than in California. Income has been growing slower in Palm Desert (5.1%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 20% of adults in Palm Desert earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Palm Desert, California grew by 44.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $82,219 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.1% per year.
Palm Desert has been above the U.S. median household income in most years since 2009, but dipped below it in 2013 and 2018-2019. In 2024 its income was 2.2% higher.
Income Distribution in Palm Desert
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 9,526 households (42.5% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 21.7% of households in Palm Desert had an income under $35,000 and 27.8% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Palm Desert has a larger share of households earning $200,000 or more (16.8% vs 13.2%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 to $149,999 (14.7% vs 17.4%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,103 | 4.9% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 847 | 3.8% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,431 | 6.4% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 1,489 | 6.6% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 2,559 | 11.4% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 3,100 | 13.8% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 2,374 | 10.6% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 3,292 | 14.7% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 2,471 | 11.0% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 3,764 | 16.8% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 22,429 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 8,419 residents (19.9% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 22.2% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 10.6% of Palm Desert residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 26.9% had some income but less than $25,000, and 27.7% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Palm Desert has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (19.9% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $1 to $9,999 (8.8% vs 11.2%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 4,489 | 10.6% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 3,729 | 8.8% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 3,353 | 7.9% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 4,317 | 10.2% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 4,226 | 10.0% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 5,072 | 12.0% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 5,450 | 12.9% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 3,346 | 7.9% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 8,419 | 19.9% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 42,401 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 10.6% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Palm Desert
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.539 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $75,442 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $65,299 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.4% | 12.1% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Palm Desert, it is 0.539, lower than California's 0.572, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 16% more than women's income in Palm Desert, California. Over a 35-year career, a 16% wage gap accumulates to roughly $355,005 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Palm Desert, California has narrowed from about 26% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 6% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,567 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Palm Desert | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.0% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 1,299 people are unemployed in Palm Desert, California.
The average commute time in Palm Desert is 17 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Palm Desert, California has fallen from 8.2% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.3% in 2012 and fell as low as 4.3% in 2020.
Palm Desert has crossed the U.S. unemployment rate 3 times since 2011, most recently moving above it by 2021. In 2024 its rate was 1.0 point higher.
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Palm Desert, California has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than California, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Palm Desert, California.
How Rich Is Palm Desert, California?
Palm Desert has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $82,219, about 17% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How has median household income changed in Palm Desert, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Palm Desert, California rose 45%, from $56,877 to $82,219. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +45% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Palm Desert in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Palm Desert, California was $82,715, up 5% from $79,011 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Palm Desert in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Palm Desert, California was $66,007. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $82,219.
What is the Gini coefficient in Palm Desert, California?
The Gini coefficient in Palm Desert is 0.539. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Palm Desert, California?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Palm Desert, California has narrowed from about 26% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 6% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $4,567 since 2009.
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