Checked
Palm Desert, CA
City in Riverside County, California. ZIP codes: 92211, 92260.
Population
51,990
Land area
26.8sq mi
People per sq mi
1,942
ZIP codes
2
Palm Desert and its ZIP codes
Palm Desert at a glance
- Palm Desert is about 7.7 times as dense as California as a whole.
- It is the 181st most populous of 1,570 cities and towns in California.
- Households here earn a median of $77,513 a year, 22% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $542,000 (26% below California) and median rent is $1,778 a month.
Local data for Palm Desert, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Palm Desert, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$77,513
Poverty rate
11.0%
Median home value
$542,000
Median rent
$1,778/mo
Homeownership
65.0%
Bachelor's or higher
40.7%
Median age
57.5
Average commute
21.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (11,252), German Americans (6,424), Irish Americans (6,243).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Riverside County. PPP loans are for Palm Desert.
Unemployment rate
5.9%
Sep 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$61,100
846,070 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$56,404
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$14.2B
FY 2026, $5,877 per person
PPP loans
$109M
1,634 loans, 14,358 jobs reported
How people get to work
Palm Desert, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone69.0%
- Carpooled13.3%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked1.1%
- Bicycle0.2%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home14.9%
Average one-way commute: 21.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Palm Desert, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very High
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
2,458
Countywide, mostly high wind
Flood insurance policies
3,343
0.5% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
106° / 47°F
2.9 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Palm Desert, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
33.5%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
13.4%
U.S. 12.1% +1.3 pts
Smoking
9.5%
U.S. 12.8% -3.3 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.9%
U.S. 11.1% -3.2 pts
ZIP codes in Palm Desert
2 in or overlapping Palm Desert. Population shown
Cities near Palm Desert
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Indian WellsCity | 2.9 mi | 14.3 |
| Rancho MirageCity | 3.9 mi | 25.3 |
| Bermuda DunesCensus-designated place | 4.9 mi | 2.9 |
| Thousand PalmsCensus-designated place | 4.9 mi | 23.6 |
| Desert PalmsCensus-designated place | 5.2 mi | 2.7 |
| La QuintaCity | 7.4 mi | 35.3 |
| Palm SpringsCity | 7.6 mi | 94.5 |
| Cathedral CityCity | 8.1 mi | 22.5 |
| IndioCity | 8.9 mi | 33.2 |
| Indio HillsCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 21.9 |
| Sky ValleyCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 24.3 |
| Vista Santa RosaCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 16.1 |
| CoachellaCity | 13 mi | 29.9 |
| Desert EdgeCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 2.3 |
| GarnetCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 7.9 |
| Desert Hot SpringsCity | 16 mi | 30.1 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Palm Desert, CA in?
- Palm Desert is in Riverside County, California.
- What ZIP codes are in Palm Desert, CA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Palm Desert include 92211, 92260.
- What is the population of Palm Desert, CA?
- About 51,990 people live in Palm Desert, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Palm Desert?
- Nearby places include Indian Wells (2.9 mi), Rancho Mirage (3.9 mi), Bermuda Dunes (4.9 mi), Thousand Palms (4.9 mi), Desert Palms (5.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023