How many renters in Palm Desert, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Palm Desert, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

65.1% (±5.7 points) of renting households in Palm Desert, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

53.8% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 37.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 65.1% (±5.7 points)
Paying 35% or more: 53.8% (±4.8 points)
Median share of income: 37.0% (±2.3 points)

Rent as a share of income in Palm Desert

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Palm Desert	Riverside County	California	United States
Less than 15%	8.2% (±3.4 points)	8.7%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	8.5% (±2.5 points)	10.0%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.5% (±3.6 points)	12.0%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	6.7% (±2.4 points)	9.9%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	11.3% (±3.1 points)	10.7%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	53.8% (±4.8 points)	48.7%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Palm Desert against Riverside County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Palm Desert	Riverside County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	65.1% (±5.7 points)	59.4% (±1.1 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	53.8% (±4.8 points)	48.7% (±0.9 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	37.0% (±2.3 points)	34.4% (±0.4 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$52,282 (±$5,996)	$63,524 (±$1,392)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,778 (±$53)	$1,901 (±$17)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Palm Desert, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Riverside County (59.4%).

It is also higher than in California (55.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Riverside County, Palm Desert ranks 17 of 70 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 190 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Palm Desert

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Palm Desert
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Palm Desert	—	65.1% (±5.7 points)	—
Indian Wells	3.3 mi	79.3% (±16.8 points)	Not measurably different
Rancho Mirage	4.2 mi	67.4% (±10.6 points)	Not measurably different
Bermuda Dunes	4.4 mi	59.1% (±16.0 points)	Not measurably different
Desert Palms	4.8 mi	60.9% (±38.5 points)	Not measurably different
Thousand Palms	5.4 mi	72.3% (±24.5 points)	Not measurably different
Indio	7.4 mi	58.0% (±7.2 points)	Not measurably different
La Quinta	8.1 mi	55.1% (±9.4 points)	Not measurably different
Cathedral City	8.8 mi	63.1% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Riverside County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
11	Menifee	70.7% (±6.9 points)
12	Lakeland Village	70.0% (±15.8 points)
13	San Jacinto	68.2% (±9.6 points)
14	Rancho Mirage	67.4% (±10.6 points)
15	Indio Hills	66.7% (±85.9 points)
16	Vista Santa Rosa	65.4% (±49.8 points)
17	Palm Desert	65.1% (±5.7 points)
18	Desert Hot Springs	64.7% (±8.5 points)
19	Palm Springs	64.1% (±4.4 points)
20	Cabazon	63.9% (±29.1 points)
21	Good Hope	63.3% (±15.9 points)
22	Cathedral City	63.1% (±6.6 points)
23	Idyllwild-Pine Cove	62.8% (±17.7 points)

Showing 13 of 70 places in Riverside County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

What you can do on Seayora in Palm Desert

One account for renting, owning, managing and fixing homes, with these figures beside you.

Looking for a place to rent?

Browse homes for rent near Palm Desert, save the ones you like and apply online.

Browse rentals · Create a renter account

Own or manage a rental?

List it, sign the lease and collect rent online, with the figures for Palm Desert beside you.

Create a landlord account · See what landlords get

Do repairs, renovations or maintenance?

Get found by owners and renters near Palm Desert, and send estimates and invoices from your phone.

Join as a pro · Find a pro

Questions about Palm Desert

Are renters in Palm Desert rent-burdened?

65.1% of renting households in Palm Desert pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Palm Desert spend on rent?

The median renting household in Palm Desert, CA spends 37.0% (±2.3 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Palm Desert city, California (place:55184, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.