Housing
Home prices and rent in Palm Desert
Median home values, rents and incomes from the U.S. Census Bureau, compared with California and the U.S.
Census geography: Palm Desert city, California. These survey estimates are not current listing prices.
Palm Desert vs. California and the U.S.
| Palm Desert | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $542,000 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $1,778 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median household income | $77,513 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes owned by occupants | 65% | 56% | 65% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1976 | 1980 |
Ten years of change
| 2014 | 2019 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,500 | $350,400 | $542,000 |
| Median rent (monthly) | $1,137 | $1,319 | $1,778 |
| Median household income | $52,053 | $59,977 | $77,513 |
Fair Market Rents (HUD, fiscal year 2027)
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA · Riverside County. HUD's payment benchmarks for housing programs: typical gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a recent mover, not a listing or an asking rent.
Large figures are the metro-area Fair Market Rent.
Income limits (HUD, fiscal year 2026)
Area median family income: $106,500. Households at or under these incomes can qualify for many housing programs; check each program's own rules.
| Household size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low income (80%) | $68,900 | $78,750 | $88,600 | $98,400 | $106,300 | $114,150 | $122,050 | $129,900 |
| Very low income (50%) | $43,050 | $49,200 | $55,350 | $61,500 | $66,450 | $71,350 | $76,300 | $81,200 |
| Extremely low income (30%) | $25,850 | $29,550 | $33,250 | $36,900 | $39,900 | $44,360 | $50,040 | $55,720 |
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents and Income Limits, checked October 9, 2026.
Questions
What is the median home value in Palm Desert?
$542,000, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey (5-year estimates), compared with $734,700 in California and $332,700 nationally.
How much is rent in Palm Desert?
Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,778 a month, versus $2,036 statewide.
How much have home values risen in Palm Desert?
The median home value went from $299,500 in 2014 to $542,000 in 2024 (+81%).
What is fair market rent in Palm Desert?
HUD's fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rent for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA is $1,605 for a studio, $1,705 for one bedroom and $2,103 for two bedrooms. These are HUD program benchmarks, not asking rents.
Are these current market prices?
No. They are survey medians from the Census Bureau, based on a five-year survey period, so they lag today’s listings. They are the most consistent way to compare places and track change over time.
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2014, 2019, 2024), Palm Desert city, California. Values are estimates with margins of error.