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City · 33,200 residents · Riverside County, California

Desert Hot Springs , California

In Desert Hot Springs, a typical home is worth $354,800 and typical rent is $1,412 a month. Compared with all of Riverside County, typical household income is 43% lower, the typical home value is 36% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 18 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $354,800

    36% below the county

    52% below California

    • Desert Hot Springs
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,412a month

    26% below the county

    31% below California

    • Desert Hot Springs
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $52,761a year

    43% below the county

    47% below California

    • Desert Hot Springs
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    51%

    18 points below the county

    5 points below California

    • Desert Hot Springs
    • Riverside
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$372,753
1.1% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,038 a month
3.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Desert Hot Springs is in Riverside County. The FHA loan limit ($690,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Riverside County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Desert Hot Springs apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical household income in Desert Hot Springs is $52,761, 43% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($93,074).

  2. 51% of households in Desert Hot Springs own their home, against 69% in Riverside County.

  3. The typical home in Desert Hot Springs is worth $354,800, 36% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($557,300).

  4. Nearby, in Garnet, the typical home value is $267,900: 24% less than in Desert Hot Springs ($354,800).

  5. The typical rent in Desert Hot Springs is $1,412 a month, 26% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($1,901).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Desert Hot Springs

What homes there are in Desert Hot Springs, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Desert Hot Springs (64%), but less so than in Riverside County (69%).

Year built

In Desert Hot Springs, half of the homes were built before 1990; in Riverside County, before 1990.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,857 a month

Riverside County: $2,583 a month

Without a mortgage

$725 a month

Riverside County: $781 a month

Owners with a mortgage

66%

Riverside County: 69%

Owning costs less in Desert Hot Springs: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,857 a month; in Riverside County, $2,583. Without one, $725.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Desert Hot Springs gained value faster than in Riverside County: 82% against 59%.

The typical rent in Desert Hot Springs rose 47% over the same time; in Riverside County, it rose 38%.

To compare: typical income in Desert Hot Springs rose 60%; the home, +82%; the rent, +47%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureDesert Hot SpringsRiverside CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate5.0%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.0%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 8.0%7.8%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.903.152.842.53
Drive alone 72%73%66%69%
Carpool 17%11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 6%12%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Desert Hot Springs, 8.0% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Riverside County.

Households in Desert Hot Springs are smaller: 2.90 people on average; in Riverside County, 3.15.

More people carpool to work in Desert Hot Springs than in Riverside County: 17% against 11%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Desert Hot Springs?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Desert Hot Springs, worth $354,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 67% of the typical household income in Desert Hot Springs, which is $52,761 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $126,749 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Riverside County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Desert Hot Springs. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,418 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,958

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$348,374
Total interest
$501,228
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,992 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,231 a month

  • Tight

    $1,231 to $1,583 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,583 a month

    Your payment · 67%

Compared with the typical household income in Desert Hot Springs ($52,761 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,958
Principal & interest$2,360
Property tax$293
Home insurance$148
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$157

You need at least $12,418 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Desert Hot Springs and Riverside County

Desert Hot Springs is in Riverside County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Desert Hot Springs's own numbers

Typical home value
$354,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,412
Typical yearly household income
$52,761
Households that own their home
51%
Effective property tax rate
0.99%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Riverside County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$690,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,103
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.9%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Riverside County.

Everything about Riverside County

Buying

Buying a home in Desert Hot Springs

A typical home in Desert Hot Springs is worth $354,800: 36% below the county and 52% below California. With the typical household income in Desert Hot Springs ($52,761 a year), a typical home costs 6.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Desert Hot Springs 6.7 years
  • Riverside 6.0 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Riverside County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Riverside County rose 105% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Riverside County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +54% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +105% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Desert Hot Springs next to Riverside County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Desert Hot Springs $354,800
  • Riverside $557,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Desert Hot Springs $1,412
  • Riverside $1,901
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Desert Hot Springs $52,761
  • Riverside $93,074
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Desert Hot Springs next to Riverside County and California
Measure Desert Hot Springs Riverside County California U.S.
Typical home value $354,800 $557,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,412 $1,901 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $52,761 $93,074 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 51% 69% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,507 $4,348 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.99% 0.78% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 65% 59% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Riverside County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Desert Hot Springs

For a typical $354,800 home in Desert Hot Springs, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Desert Hot Springs's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,957a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,418
    Cash to close
    $23,062
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $157

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,892a month

    Down payment
    $17,740
    Cash to close
    $28,384
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $169

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,363a month

    Down payment
    $70,960
    Cash to close
    $81,604
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,691a month

    Down payment
    $53,220
    Cash to close
    $63,864
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Desert Hot Springs and for Riverside County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Desert Hot Springs

0.99%of the home’s value each year

$3,507 a year for the typical owner in Desert Hot Springs.

  • Desert Hot Springs 0.99%
  • Riverside 0.78%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Riverside County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Riverside County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.9%
14,072
Of those, with NFIP insurance
16%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.9% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 16% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Desert Hot Springs

Typical rent in Desert Hot Springs is $1,412 a month: 26% below the county. In Desert Hot Springs, 65% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Riverside County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,103 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $40.44 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Riverside County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,605 $30.87 $64,200
1 bedroom $1,705 $32.79 $68,200
2 bedrooms $2,103 $40.44 $84,120
3 bedrooms $2,771 $53.29 $110,840
4 bedrooms $3,336 $64.15 $133,440

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Desert Hot Springs

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Desert Hot Springs has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,990 in all of them.

None is above the fair market rent for Riverside County ($2,103).

  • 92240 $1,990$2,630
  • 92282 $1,990$2,630

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Desert Hot Springs when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Desert Hot Springs

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Desert Hot Springs. These are the largest.

  • Casa del Sol & Casa West Apts 66555 4th St, Desert Hot Springs 92240 156 homes, 154 low-income · 1 bd: 136 · 2 bd: 20 · In service since 2007 · For older adults
  • Bella Vista Apts II 66950 Ironwood Dr, Desert Hot Springs 92240 96 low-income homes · In service since 1993 · For families
  • Verbena Crossing Apts 66950 Ironwood Dr, Desert Hot Springs 92240 96 homes, 94 low-income · 1 bd: 25 · 2 bd: 23 · 3 bd: 48 · In service since 2013 · For families
  • Brisas de Paz 65921 Flora Ave, Desert Hot Springs 92240 62 homes, 61 low-income · 1 bd: 11 · 2 bd: 26 · 3 bd: 25 · In service since 2012 · For families
  • Arroyo de Paz Apts I 66765 Two Bunch Palms Trl, Desert Hot Springs 92240 60 homes, 59 low-income · 1 bd: 12 · 2 bd: 16 · 3 bd: 20 · 4 bd: 12 · In service since 2006 · For families

See all 214 buildings in Riverside County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Desert Hot Springs

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 9 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Riverside County; 7 say they serve in Spanish.

A grandmother pushes her grandson on a playground swing.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Desert Hot Springs

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Desert Hot Springs or Riverside County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Desert Hot Springs the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Desert Hot Springs

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Desert Hot Springs, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.- Palm Springs

    190 W Amado Rd, Palm Springs · 9 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 4 more
    (760) 864-1541

  • Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

    45701 Monroe St Ste G, Indio · 24 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (760) 347-3157

  • Nid-Hca Riverside / San Bernardino County

    23945 Sunnymead Blvd, Moreno Valley · 40 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (951) 399-4538

Every agency in Riverside County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Desert Hot Springs

2 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Desert Hot Springs

HUD’s record names them for Desert Hot Springs or Riverside County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the County of Riverside Section 8 vouchers (951) 351-0700

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Riverside County

These cities are also in Riverside County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Riverside County Housing in California
See 35 more cities in Riverside County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Desert Hot Springs, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Riverside County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Desert Hot Springs.

All guides
A family walks a boardwalk trail in the forest; one of them uses a wheelchair.

Questions

Housing questions about Desert Hot Springs

Short answers with the numbers for Desert Hot Springs and all of Riverside County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Desert Hot Springs?

The typical home value in Desert Hot Springs is $354,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Riverside County it is $557,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Desert Hot Springs?

Typical rent in Desert Hot Springs is $1,412 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Riverside County is $2,103.

What is the FHA loan limit in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs uses the FHA limit for all of Riverside County (2026): $690,000 for a one-unit home and $1,326,950 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Desert Hot Springs?

The typical homeowner in Desert Hot Springs pays $3,507 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.99% of the home’s value; in Riverside County, the rate is 0.78%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Desert Hot Springs?

There are 9 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Riverside County. 7 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).