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City · 7,720 residents · Riverside County, California

Thousand Palms , California

In Thousand Palms, a typical home is worth $268,700 and typical rent is $1,495 a month. Compared with all of Riverside County, the typical home value is 52% lower and typical rent is 21% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $268,700

    52% below the county

    63% below California

    • Thousand Palms
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,495a month

    21% below the county

    27% below California

    • Thousand Palms
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $77,000a year

    17% below the county

    22% below California

    • Thousand Palms
    • Riverside
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    73%

    4 points above the county

    17 points above California

    • Thousand Palms
    • Riverside
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$377,767
about the same as 12 months ago

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

Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms apart

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

  1. The typical home in Thousand Palms is worth $268,700, 52% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($557,300).

  2. Thousand Palms has the 23rd largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 616 cities in California with more than 5,000 people (72%).

  3. The typical rent in Thousand Palms is $1,495 a month, 21% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($1,901).

  4. The typical household income in Thousand Palms is $77,000, 17% less than in Riverside County as a whole ($93,074).

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

The homes here

Housing in Thousand Palms

What homes there are in Thousand Palms, 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 Thousand Palms; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 49%, less than in Riverside County (69%).

There are more mobile homes here than in Riverside County: 48% of homes, against 9%.

Year built

Homes in Thousand Palms are older: the typical year built is 1984; in Riverside County, 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

$1,315 a month

Riverside County: $2,583 a month

Without a mortgage

$692 a month

Riverside County: $781 a month

Owners with a mortgage

52%

Riverside County: 69%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Thousand Palms is $1,315 a month, less than in Riverside County ($2,583); without one, $692.

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

Homes in Thousand Palms gained value more slowly than in Riverside County: 48% since 2015–2019, against 59%.

The typical rent in Thousand Palms stayed about the same over that time: the difference is within the Census margin of error.

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

MeasureThousand PalmsRiverside 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 Unreliable estimate7.8%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.783.152.842.53
Drive alone 79%73%66%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate12%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Thousand Palms are smaller: 2.78 people on average; in Riverside County, 3.15.

In Thousand Palms, 79% of workers drive alone to work; 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 Thousand Palms?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Thousand Palms, worth $268,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 34% of the typical household income in Thousand Palms, which is $77,000 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $93,399 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 Thousand Palms. 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 $9,405 (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

$2,179

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$263,833
Total interest
$379,593
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,538 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,797 a month

  • Tight

    $1,797 to $2,310 a month

    Your payment · 34%

  • Hard

    more than $2,310 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Thousand Palms ($77,000 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,179
Principal & interest$1,787
Property tax$161
Home insurance$112
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$119

You need at least $9,405 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

Thousand Palms and Riverside County

Thousand Palms 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).

Thousand Palms's own numbers

Typical home value
$268,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,495
Typical yearly household income
$77,000
Households that own their home
73%
Effective property tax rate
0.72%

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 Thousand Palms

A typical home in Thousand Palms is worth $268,700: 52% below the county and 63% below California. With the typical household income in Thousand Palms ($77,000 a year), a typical home costs 3.5 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.

  • Thousand Palms 3.5 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

Thousand Palms 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
  • Thousand Palms $268,700
  • Riverside $557,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Thousand Palms $1,495
  • Riverside $1,901
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Thousand Palms $77,000
  • Riverside $93,074
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Thousand Palms next to Riverside County and California
Measure Thousand Palms Riverside County California U.S.
Typical home value $268,700 $557,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,495 $1,901 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $77,000 $93,074 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 73% 69% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,924 $4,348 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.72% 0.78% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 72% 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 Thousand Palms

For a typical $268,700 home in Thousand Palms, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Thousand Palms's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,179a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $9,405
    Cash to close
    $17,466
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $119

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,130a month

    Down payment
    $13,435
    Cash to close
    $21,496
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $128

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,729a month

    Down payment
    $53,740
    Cash to close
    $61,801
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,978a month

    Down payment
    $40,305
    Cash to close
    $48,366
    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 Thousand Palms and for Riverside County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Thousand Palms

0.72%of the home’s value each year

$1,924 a year for the typical owner in Thousand Palms.

  • Thousand Palms 0.72%
  • 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 Thousand Palms

Typical rent in Thousand Palms is $1,495 a month: 21% below the county. In Thousand Palms, 72% 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 Thousand Palms

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Thousand Palms is in ZIP code 92276.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,990: $113 less than the fair market rent for Riverside County ($2,103).

  • 92276 $1,990$2,630

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms

HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Thousand Palms. These are the largest.

  • Legacy 72490 El Centro Way, Thousand Palms 92276 81 homes, 80 low-income · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 34 · 3 bd: 33 · In service since 2012 · For families
  • 30-130 Los Flores 31130 Las Flores Way, Thousand Palms 92276 1 low-income home
  • 31480 Arbol Real 31480 Arbol Real, Thousand Palms 92276 1 low-income home
  • 73-075 Callita Bell 73075 Callita Bell, Thousand Palms 92276 1 low-income home
  • Thousand Palms Phase II 30570 Calle Jessica, Thousand Palms 92276 1 low-income home

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Thousand Palms

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 man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Thousand Palms

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

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Thousand Palms, 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 · 10 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 · 11 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 Thousand Palms

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 Thousand Palms

HUD’s record names them for Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms, 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 Thousand Palms.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Thousand Palms

Short answers with the numbers for Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms?

The typical home value in Thousand Palms is $268,700, 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 Thousand Palms?

Typical rent in Thousand Palms is $1,495 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 Thousand Palms?

Thousand Palms 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 Thousand Palms?

The typical homeowner in Thousand Palms pays $1,924 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.72% of the home’s value; in Riverside County, the rate is 0.78%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Thousand Palms?

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).