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Thermal, CA
Census-designated place in Riverside County, California.
Population
1,800
Land area
9.4sq mi
People per sq mi
192
ZIP codes
0
Thermal and its ZIP codes
Thermal at a glance
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $187,000 (75% below California) and median rent is $986 a month.
Local data for Thermal, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Thermal, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Poverty rate
19.3%
Median home value
$187,000
Median rent
$986/mo
Homeownership
56.6%
Bachelor's or higher
8.7%
Median age
34.3
Average commute
22.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (1,733), Irish Americans (16), Filipino Americans (5).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Riverside County. PPP loans are for Thermal.
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
How people get to work
Thermal, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone65.2%
- Carpooled21.6%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked4.7%
- Bicycle2.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.0%
- Worked from home3.0%
Average one-way commute: 22.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Thermal, 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
107° / 39°F
3.0 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Thermal, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
43.8%
U.S. 33.3% +10.5 pts
Diabetes
16.2%
U.S. 12.1% +4.1 pts
Smoking
15.8%
U.S. 12.8% +3.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
29.1%
U.S. 11.1% +18.0 pts
Cities near Thermal
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| MeccaCensus-designated place | 4.6 mi | 6.9 |
| Vista Santa RosaCensus-designated place | 4.8 mi | 16.1 |
| CoachellaCity | 4.8 mi | 29.9 |
| OasisCensus-designated place | 7.7 mi | 19.6 |
| La QuintaCity | 9.2 mi | 35.3 |
| IndioCity | 9.8 mi | 33.2 |
| Bermuda DunesCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 2.9 |
| Indian WellsCity | 14 mi | 14.3 |
| Desert PalmsCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 2.7 |
| North ShoreCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 11.2 |
| Desert ShoresCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 0.7 |
| Palm DesertCity | 16 mi | 26.8 |
| Indio HillsCensus-designated place | 17 mi | 21.9 |
| Salton Sea BeachCensus-designated place | 18 mi | 0.3 |
| Thousand PalmsCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 23.6 |
| Rancho MirageCity | 20 mi | 25.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Thermal, CA in?
- Thermal is in Riverside County, California.
- What is the population of Thermal, CA?
- About 1,800 people live in Thermal, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Thermal?
- Nearby places include Mecca (4.6 mi), Vista Santa Rosa (4.8 mi), Coachella (4.8 mi), Oasis (7.7 mi), La Quinta (9.2 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023