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Palm Desert

#21 in Best Places to Retire in California
  • B
    Overall Grade
  • Town in California
  • 135 reviews
    B
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B
    2. Crime & Safety
      C+
    3. Housing
      C-
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      B-
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      B
    8. Weather
      A-
    9. Cost of Living
      C-
    10. Health & Fitness
      A
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A-
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Palm Desert is a town in California with a population of 51,675. Palm Desert is in Riverside County. Living in Palm Desert offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Palm Desert there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many retirees live in Palm Desert and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Palm Desert are above average.
    About Palm Desert...
    Population
    51,675

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $328,300
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,195
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      39%
    • Own
      61%
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    Palm Desert Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C+
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      109.8
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      5.7
      40.7
    • Robbery
      56.8
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      802.3
      500.1
    • Theft
      2,906.6
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      219.5
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      9%
    • 10-17 years
      7%
    • 18-24 years
      7%
    • 25-34 years
      10%
    • 35-44 years
      10%
    • 45-54 years
      10%
    • 55-64 years
      15%
    • 65+ years
      33%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      14%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      22%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      35%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      21%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      8%
      13%

    Working in Palm Desert

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $56,262
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Palm Desert
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    Palm Desert Reviews

    135 reviews
    All Categories
    I moved to Palm Desert three years ago and I love the people, the scenery and events. I experienced various events on El Paseo and look forward to them every year. I hope to see more affordable housing in the future. If there is one thing I can say about the city council is that they do focus a lot on fundraising for senior activities and services. I am considering becoming a homeowner in the city of Palm Desert since it has everything a resident should look for. I wish there were more live music and concerts outside; since the weather is beautiful here.
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    Palm Desert has taught me the importance of volunteering for all. I've come to learn with increasing depth the common challenges and experiences that unite us all. My experience has given me an opportunity to use my education and skills not only to enhance human physical abilities but also to educate people in order to prevent further illness. Improving an individual's quality of life is the city's core motivator. In addition, I thoroughly enjoy being in a town working toward the same goal of restoring people to full health. Everything I learned through my volunteer work motivates me to serve in a variety of communities. In our work we developed an enjoyment by helping increase health equity, decrease disparities, and improve the health in vulnerable communities.
    Palm Desert is an awesome city. The public schools are absolutely awesome. Palm Desert Character Middle School, Palm Desert High School, and College of the Desert are all located within Palm Desert. Palm Desert also has a wide variety of restaurants to eat at, and places to get drinks such as coffees or smoothies. The only downside is that Palm Desert does not really have much of a 'night life,' as things close up pretty early comparatively to other places.