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City · 51,990 residents · Riverside County, California

Palm Desert , California

In Palm Desert, a typical home is worth $542,000 and typical rent is $1,778 a month. Compared with all of Riverside County, typical household income is 17% lower and typical rent is 6% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $542,000

    3% below the county

    26% below California

    • Palm Desert
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,778a month

    6% below the county

    13% below California

    • Palm Desert
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $77,513a year

    17% below the county

    22% below California

    • Palm Desert
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    65%

    4 points below the county

    9 points above California

    • Palm Desert
    • Riverside
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$538,400
1.3% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,749 a month
4.1% more than 12 months ago

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

Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Thousand Palms, the typical home value is $268,700: 50% less than in Palm Desert ($542,000).

  2. Nearby, in Indio, the typical rent is $1,437: 19% less than in Palm Desert ($1,778).

  3. The typical household income in Palm Desert is $77,513, 17% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($93,074).

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

The homes here

Housing in Palm Desert

What homes there are in Palm Desert, 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

No kind of home is the majority in Palm Desert; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 38%, less than in Riverside County (69%).

Year built

In Palm Desert, half of the homes were built before 1985; in Riverside County, before 1990.

In Palm Desert, 11% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 46% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 66% in Riverside County.

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

The FHA loan limit for Riverside County is $690,000, and about 68% of owner-occupied homes in Palm Desert are worth less than that.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,660 a month

Riverside County: $2,583 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,184 a month

Riverside County: $781 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Riverside County: 69%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Palm Desert is $2,660 a month, near the figure in Riverside County ($2,583).

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

The typical home value in Palm Desert rose 55% since 2015–2019, less than in Riverside County (59%).

Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Palm Desert rose 35%, less than in Riverside County (38%).

The typical household income in Palm Desert rose 29%: less than home values (+55%) and rent (+35%).

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

MeasurePalm DesertRiverside CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 8.8%5.0%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 2.0%1.0%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.9%7.8%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.083.152.842.53
Drive alone 69%73%66%69%
Carpool 13%11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 15%12%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

In Palm Desert, the rental vacancy rate is 8.8%; in Riverside County, 5.0%.

Fewer households are short on space in Palm Desert: 2.9% have more than one person per room; in Riverside County, 7.8%.

Households in Palm Desert are smaller: 2.08 people on average; in Riverside County, 3.15.

To get to work, 69% of workers in Palm Desert drive alone; in Riverside County, 73%.

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 Palm Desert?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Palm Desert, worth $542,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 69% of the typical household income in Palm Desert, which is $77,513 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $191,108 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 Palm Desert. 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 $18,970 (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

$4,459

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$532,183
Total interest
$765,687
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $9,153 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,809 a month

  • Tight

    $1,809 to $2,325 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,325 a month

    Your payment · 69%

Compared with the typical household income in Palm Desert ($77,513 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$4,459
Principal & interest$3,605
Property tax$388
Home insurance$226
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$240

You need at least $18,970 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

Palm Desert and Riverside County

Palm Desert 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).

Palm Desert's own numbers

Typical home value
$542,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,778
Typical yearly household income
$77,513
Households that own their home
65%
Effective property tax rate
0.86%

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 Palm Desert

A typical home in Palm Desert is worth $542,000: 3% below the county and 26% below California. With the typical household income in Palm Desert ($77,513 a year), a typical home costs 7.0 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.

  • Palm Desert 7.0 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

Palm Desert 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
  • Palm Desert $542,000
  • Riverside $557,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Palm Desert $1,778
  • Riverside $1,901
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Palm Desert $77,513
  • Riverside $93,074
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Palm Desert next to Riverside County and California
Measure Palm Desert Riverside County California U.S.
Typical home value $542,000 $557,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,778 $1,901 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $77,513 $93,074 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 65% 69% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,660 $4,348 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.86% 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 Palm Desert

For a typical $542,000 home in Palm Desert, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Palm Desert's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $4,459a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $18,970
    Cash to close
    $35,230
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $240

  • Conventional, 5% down $4,360a month

    Down payment
    $27,100
    Cash to close
    $43,360
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $257

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,552a month

    Down payment
    $108,400
    Cash to close
    $124,660
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $4,053a month

    Down payment
    $81,300
    Cash to close
    $97,560
    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 Palm Desert and for Riverside County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Palm Desert

0.86%of the home’s value each year

$4,660 a year for the typical owner in Palm Desert.

  • Palm Desert 0.86%
  • 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 Palm Desert

Typical rent in Palm Desert is $1,778 a month: 6% below the county. In Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert

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

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,160 in 92211 to $2,190 in 92260.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Riverside County ($2,103).

  • 92211 $2,160$2,850
  • 92260 $2,190$2,890

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Palm Desert.

  • Hovley Gardens 74501 42nd Ave, Palm Desert 92260 163 homes, 162 low-income · 2 bd: 72 · 3 bd: 73 · 4 bd: 18 · In service since 2003 · For families

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Palm Desert

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 smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Palm Desert

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Palm Desert or Riverside County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert

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

  • Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

    45701 Monroe St Ste G, Indio · 8 miles away · Spanish

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

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

    190 W Amado Rd, Palm Springs · 12 miles away · Spanish

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

  • Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.- Moreno Valley

    23890 Alessandro Blvd Ste A1, Moreno Valley · 52 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 4 more
    (951) 653-8314

Every agency in Riverside County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Palm Desert

3 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 Palm Desert

HUD’s record names them for Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert, 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 Palm Desert.

All guides
A father smiles as he carries his baby on his shoulders outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about Palm Desert

Short answers with the numbers for Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert?

The typical home value in Palm Desert is $542,000, 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 Palm Desert?

Typical rent in Palm Desert is $1,778 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 Palm Desert?

Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert?

The typical homeowner in Palm Desert pays $4,660 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.86% of the home’s value; in Riverside County, the rate is 0.78%.

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

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).