Known as the “gem of the desert,” La Quinta sits in the heart of the Coachella Valley at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The city dates back to the 1920s when the La Quinta Resort and Club opened as a getaway for the elite. “Back in the day, it was one of the big places for Hollywood stars to visit,” says longtime area resident John Sloan, a Realtor with Keller Williams Luxury Homes. The resort also serves as a major employer for the area, and many residents also work in nearby communities like Palm Desert and Palm Springs. “It’s a small town but you’re surrounded by everything, so you don’t feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere,” says Debbie Behlman, a La Quinta resident and broker associate with Equity Union.
A golfer’s paradise, the Coachella Valley has over 120 golf courses, 25 of which are in La Quinta alone, including some of the most exclusive. “Golf is a really big draw because of all the country clubs and golf courses, and basically all of the gated communities are country club or golf course-centric,” Behlman says. “But there’s also the other lifestyle draws, with all the hiking and biking trails. People come to La Quinta to live an active, outdoor lifestyle in the sunshine.”
While the city has historically drawn retirees and seasonal residents, Behlman says that is beginning to change. “There are lot more full-time people now and a lot of families,” she says. “The schools are highly rated, which is a big draw for families with school-aged children.”
La Quinta Park has colorful signs.
Residents of PGA West can relish having a golf course in their backyard.
Bear Creek Nature Trailhead in La Quinta is a favorite place to take in nature.
Gem of the desert sign in La Quinta.
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Gated golf course communities and the broad appeal of La Quinta Cove
At the start of 2025, the median single-family home sale price in La Quinta was about $900,000, lower than Palm Springs which floats above $1.1 million. Among the luxury gated golf course communities here is the Madison Club, where palatial estates can exceed $20 million. La Quinta Cove, so named because of the mountains surrounding it on three sides, has the city's oldest homes, dating back to the 1930s. It's also the most eclectic neighborhood, due to the lack of homeowners association restrictions. Homes here also tend to cost less than other areas of La Quinta. “What’s interesting about La Quinta is that in many of the areas, especially La Quinta Cove, there are no streetlights,” Sloan says. “The city really wants residents to be able to enjoy the stars at night, so they left the lights out.”
Residents of Andalusia will relish the combination of a golf course and serene lakes.
Hideaway is a golf community which many residents play daily.
Golf is a favorite activity for locals in La Quinta.
Rancho La Quinta residents will enjoy the many golf courses in the area.
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World-class golf courses, plus access to hiking trails and community parks
Between La Quinta Resort and Club and its sister property, PGA West, are five public resort courses and four private courses. Every spring, the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West hosts the American Express PGA tour, bringing world-class golf and entertainment to La Quinta. In addition to golf, residents have access to quite a few trails that branch off from the cove into the mountains. The paved 5-mile Bear Creek Trail is one of several that passes through 20-acre Fred Wolff Nature Preserve, while the nearly 7-mile out-and-back Cove to Lake Trail leads hikers to Lake Cahuilla for fishing and camping. La Quinta also has more than a dozen community parks with playgrounds and sports facilities.
The Cove Trailhead in La Quinta is a favorite spot for local hikers.
Your kids will love the playground at Fritz Burns Park.
Take in the beautiful views while hiking at the Cove Trailhead in La Quinta.
Enjoy beautiful views at Lake Cahuilla County Park in La Quinta.
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Proximity to the country’s largest music festivals and the Indian Wells Tennis Garden
La Quinta puts its residents close to two of the country’s largest music festivals: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Stagecoach Festival, which take place each spring in neighboring Indio. “The festivals are right on the border of La Quinta, so April is a huge month here,” Behlman says, adding that the area gets busier during this time but that traffic isn't much of an issue. On the border of La Quinta, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is the second-largest tennis stadium in the world, hosting some of the world’s top players every March at the BNP Paribas Open. “During Indian Wells, they put on a big tennis exhibition with celebrities and players at the courts at La Quinta Resort,” Behlman says. “It’s a big deal.”
Locally owned shops and restaurants in Old Town La Quinta
Both locally owned and chain restaurants can be found along State Route 111 on the city’s north end, along with big-box retailers and popular grocery stores. Old Town La Quinta, designed to feel like an old European village, is the city’s highly walkable shopping and dining district, with locally owned boutiques, coffee shops, eateries and bars. On Sunday mornings from October through May, the Old Town La Quinta Certified Farmers Market features fresh produce, flowers and artisan crafts. Art on Main Street is held on Saturdays from November through March, showcasing the work of over 100 artists.
Old Town La Quinta Certified Farmers' Market is open on Sundays from October through May.
RD RNNR has the best fish taco plate around and great service.
Old Town La Quinta is home to several boutique shops, coffee shops and home goods stores.
Stop into Tower Market for a quick snack in La Quinta Cove.
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Learning in the highly rated Desert Sands Unified School District
La Quinta is served by the Desert Sands Unified School District, which Niche rates an overall A-minus and ranks among the top five districts in Riverside County. The district serves about 26,000 students across its 20 elementary, eight middle and seven high schools. Several elementary schools have a dual language immersion program, and district high schoolers can enroll in hands-on career and technical education courses in a variety of fields.
Coachella Valley High's wall art showcases creativity and expression.
Cahuilla Desert Academy Junior High offers a space where all people can learn and thrive.
La Quinta Middle School serves Rancho La Quinta students of the Coachella Valley.
La Quinta High School is a former California Distinguished Schools award winner.
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Low violent crime rates and risk of extreme temperatures
La Quinta has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 4 out of 10, the same as the national average. According to FBI statistics, the rate of property crime in La Quinta is on par with the state and national level, while the rate of violent crime is significantly lower than the state and national average. According to the State of California Department of Justice, there were 944 reported instances of property crime in La Quinta in 2023, most of which were larceny.
During the summer months, temperatures often reach above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, sometimes exceeding 110 degrees. Rising temperatures also cause vegetation to dry out more quickly, allowing wildfires to more easily spread. La Quinta is served by the Riverside County Fire Department, which has three stations across the city.
Bike lanes and SunLine bus stops
Many of La Quinta’s roads have bike lanes. SunLine bus stops dot State Route 111, connecting to destinations throughout the Coachella Valley and the Greater Palm Springs Area. Residents are anywhere from 5 to 10 miles from Interstate 10, leading about 25 miles to Palm Springs and about 130 miles to Los Angeles. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital is just east in Indio, while the larger Desert Regional Medical Center — the area's only designated level 1 trauma center — is located in Palm Springs, along with Palm Springs international Airport.
I've lived in the Coachella Valley for 40 Years so I know the area well and raised our family here. It's a special place with something for everyone, be it golf, tennis, theater, art, equestrian, hiking,ice hockey, world class entertainment, casinos, I could go on and on. I spent 20 years managing country clubs here and our members would often say "we have to go home for the summer to get some rest". With a diverse array of cities, there is no question I can find the right place for you.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
