Palmdale, California Income Statistics
Palmdale 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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D
Palmdale Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Palmdale | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $80,742 | $99,161 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,660 | $67,742 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.9% | 20.5% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Palmdale is about 19% lower than in California. Income has been growing faster in Palmdale (5.8%/yr) than in California (5.6%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Palmdale earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the California average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Palmdale, California grew by 48.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $80,742 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Palmdale has been above the U.S. median household income in most years since 2009, but dipped below it in 2015-2020 (as much as 6.8% lower). In 2024 its income was 0.4% higher.
Income Distribution in Palmdale
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 17,830 households (38.7% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 19.2% of households in Palmdale had an income under $35,000 and 20.4% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Palmdale has a larger share of households earning $75,000 to $99,999 (14.7% vs 12.6%) and a smaller share earning $200,000 or more (9.9% vs 13.2%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 2,227 | 4.8% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 1,461 | 3.2% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 2,422 | 5.3% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,736 | 5.9% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 5,160 | 11.2% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 7,499 | 16.3% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 6,797 | 14.7% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 8,404 | 18.2% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 4,864 | 10.5% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 4,562 | 9.9% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 46,131 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 11,209 residents (9.0% 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 11.6% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 22.4% of Palmdale residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 29.6% had some income but less than $25,000, and 15.5% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Palmdale has a larger share of residents with no personal income (22.4% vs 12.8%) and a smaller share earning $100,000 or more (9.0% vs 13.9%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 27,810 | 22.4% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 13,253 | 10.7% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 9,805 | 7.9% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 13,656 | 11.0% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 11,398 | 9.2% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 13,746 | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 15,219 | 12.3% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 7,960 | 6.4% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 11,209 | 9.0% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 124,056 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 22.4% 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 Palmdale
| Metric | Palmdale | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.605 | 0.572 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $61,837 | $75,172 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,299 | $66,071 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.9% | 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 Palmdale, it is 0.605, higher than California's 0.572, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 28% more than women's income in Palmdale, California. Over a 35-year career, a 28% wage gap accumulates to roughly $473,830 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
The income gap between men and women in Palmdale, California has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 22%. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010, and was narrowest at 14% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,720 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Palmdale | California Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 8.4% | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 27 | 23 | 22 |
Approximately 6,230 people are unemployed in Palmdale, California.
The average commute time in Palmdale is 27 minutes, longer than the 23 minutes in California.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Palmdale, California has fallen from 13.7% to 8.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 15.4% in 2013 and fell as low as 7.4% in 2022.
Palmdale has stayed well above the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never dropped below it. It came closest in 2022, at 2.0 points higher. The gap has narrowed from 5.0 points in 2011 to 3.2 points in 2024.
Palmdale, CA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Palmdale, CA compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmdale, CA | 163,756 | $80,742 #1/2 | 5.8%/yr #2/2 | 8.4% #2/2 | 0.605 #2/2 |
| Lancaster, CA | 170,225 | $80,578 | 7.1%/yr | 7.5% | 0.604 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Palmdale, California has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than California, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Palmdale, California.
How Rich Is Palmdale, California?
Palmdale has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $80,742, about 19% lower than the California average of $99,161.
How fast is household income rising in Palmdale, California?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Palmdale, California rose 48%, from $54,455 to $80,742. Over the same years, income here lagged behind California as a whole: +48% against +64%.
What was the median household income in Palmdale in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Palmdale, California was $80,779, up 3% from $78,353 in 2022. The California median that year was $96,718.
What was the median household income in Palmdale in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Palmdale, California was $64,646. By 2024 it had risen 25% to $80,742.
How strong is the job market in Palmdale, California?
Unemployment in Palmdale, California is 8.4%, well above the California rate of 6.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Palmdale, California?
The Gini coefficient in Palmdale is 0.605. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Palmdale, California?
The income gap between men and women in Palmdale, California has stayed about the same since 2009, at around 22%. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2010, and was narrowest at 14% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,720 since 2009.
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