Palm Desert, CA · Market Data

Palm Desert, California real estate market data.

Real estate market data for Palm Desert, CA (Riverside County) — Census median home value $491,600, county listing prices up about 1.3% over the past year.

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Palm Desert, CA is in Riverside County, California — covering the whole local market here: resale homes, condos, land, and new construction. The most recent Census estimate puts the population at 51,551, with a median household income of $79,508. Census data puts Palm Desert's median home value at $491,600.

At a glance

Palm Desert market snapshot

Population

51,551

Median Household Income

$79,508

Median Home Value (city)

$491,600

Median Gross Rent

$1,717/mo

Price Trend (YoY)

+1.3%

Market data compiled from public sources; deemed reliable but not guaranteed; verify independently. Full source list ↗

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Why Palm Desert

What makes Palm Desert different

Home Value, By Source

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate) puts Palm Desert's median home value — across all owner-occupied homes, not just recent sales — at $491,600.

County Price Trend

Riverside County's FHFA house price index shows a 1.32% annual change in 2025.

Population & Income

Palm Desert has an estimated population of 51,551 and a median household income of $79,508, per the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate).

Affordability Snapshot

Palm Desert's Census-reported median home value works out to about 6.2x the area's median household income, and median gross rent runs roughly 26% of that same income on an annualized basis. Housing economists commonly flag a price-to-income ratio above 4x as historically elevated -- useful context, not a personal affordability verdict.

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Common questions

Palm Desert FAQ

What are home values like in Palm Desert, CA?

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey puts Palm Desert's median home value at $491,600.

What is the population of Palm Desert, CA?

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2023 5-year estimate) puts Palm Desert's population at approximately 51,551.

What's the median rent in Palm Desert, CA?

The Census ACS estimates median gross rent in Palm Desert at approximately $1,717 per month.

What is the median household income in Palm Desert, CA?

Census ACS data puts the median household income in Palm Desert at approximately $79,508.

Is the Palm Desert housing market growing?

Riverside County's FHFA house price index shows a 1.32% annual change in 2025.

Is Palm Desert, CA affordable relative to income?

Census ACS data puts Palm Desert's median home value at about 6.2 times the median household income, with median gross rent equal to roughly 26% of that income annually. This is a general benchmark, not a personal pre-qualification -- your own income, debt, and down payment determine what you can actually afford.

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