Set about 122 miles east of Los Angeles in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert is a steadily growing city known for its resort-style living and natural beauty. “The weather’s beautiful here,” says David Kibbey, a broker associate with Desert Sotheby's International Realty, who has over 17 years of experience. “There’s hundreds of golf courses, lots of parks, tons of hiking trails—we’re close to the mountains, close to the beaches.” Palm Desert was a small farming community in the early 20th century, but by the late 20th century, its scenic desert mountain views were attracting developers of country club communities. Today, the city’s home to about 52,000 residents, and top industries include healthcare, hospitality and retail. “Historically, snowbirds would come here in the winter months to get out of the cold snow and golf, walk, hike and enjoy the weather, but we have more and more year-round people living here now,” Kibbey says. The city’s also known for luxury retail and dining at The Shops on El Paseo, which Kibbey says has made Palm Desert a valley hub for shopping and dining.
Palm Desert residents enjoy luxury retail and dining at The Shops on El Paseo.
Scenic mountain views attract residents to the Palm Desert area.
Kaiser Permanente is a top health care employer in Palm Desert.
Residents enjoy resort-style living with an abundance of natural beauty in Palm Desert.
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Lower home prices than coastal California
The average home price in Palm Desert is about $800,000, compared to $990,000 in Palm Springs and about $580,000 in Indio. “There’s a higher median price here than some of the other cities in the valley, but the prices are significantly less than some of the coastal communities to the west, like Los Angeles or San Diego,” Kibbey says. Many homes and condos here were built during the late 20th century in planned country club communities with shared amenities, like clubhouses and pools; new traditional Spanish- or Pueblo-inspired designs are typical. Homes built over the past 25 years in newer communities are often new traditional ranch-style, some with Spanish details, like red clay-tiled roofs and desert-colored stucco facades. Kibbey says there’s also a lot of high-end real estate. Custom homes in communities like Bighorn Country Club are especially coveted for perks like lakefront or golf course views. In the Silver Spur Community, homebuyers can find RV parking and manufactured homes built during the late 20th century through today with minimal stylings on concrete lots.
Many home communities in Palm Desert feature golf course views.
Condos in the area often have access to shared community clubhouses.
Palm Desert is home to several gated developments with community pools for residents.
Spanish homes are typical styles found in Palm Desert.
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Shopping along El Paseo Avenue
Locally referred to as the “Rodeo Drive of the desert,” The Shops on El Paseo is one of the most popular commercial areas in the Coachella Valley. “El Paseo is a shopping district with art galleries, fine stores for clothing and shopping, a plethora of restaurants—everything from steakhouses to seafood, the list goes on,” Kibbey says. The palm tree-lined avenue also offers health and wellness businesses, like gyms, spas and beauty services, including nail salons and cosmetic dentists. The Shops at Palm Desert is another city highlight, an indoor shopping mall with over 100 stores and eateries to enjoy. Grocery stores are often found around Route 111, along with chain retailers and fast-food restaurants in retail plazas. Kibbey says Palm Desert doesn’t have much in the way of nightclubs, but the city’s high-end restaurants are popular venues for a night out.
The shops on El Paseo are a popular retail and dining destination in Palm Desert.
Find steakhouses like Maestro’s and many other fine restaurants in Palm Desert.
The Shops at Palm Desert is an indoor mall with over 100 shops and eateries to choose from.
The palm tree lined El Paseo Avenue is a great place to spend an afternoon in Palm Desert.
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Art walk, local theater and community events
Palm Desert has a thriving arts and culture scene. The El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition is a highlight, updated every two years with new sculptures by local artists. There’s also the El Paseo Art Walk, held on the first Friday of the month from November to May, where residents peruse the avenue's art galleries and meet local artists while enjoying live music or watching classic cars on their way to the coinciding El Paseo Cruise Night. The McCallum Theatre has been a city staple for nearly 40 years, featuring a year-round schedule of new and classic theatrical shows, as well as occasional performances from touring comedians and musicians. Locals may donate to become members of the theater and receive perks like special behind-the-scenes events, advance ticket buying and complementary concessions. There are also high-profile events in neighboring Coachella Valley cities, like Indio’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April and the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January.
The El Paseo Sculpture Exhibition features new local artists every two years.
The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert occasionally features performances from musicians.
Residents can visit several art galleries at the El Paseo Art Walk in Palm Desert.
El Paseo in Palm Desert is lively, hosting events like car shows and live music.
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Parks, pools and mountain hiking
Palm Desert offers a dozen parks spread across more than 200 acres of land for locals to enjoy. Civic Center Park is the city’s recreational centerpiece, offering palm tree-lined walking paths, a dog park and sports like baseball, tennis and basketball. The 70-acre park also includes an outdoor skatepark and a rose garden with lots of colorful varieties. The Palm Desert Aquatic Center’s another highlight, offering three community pools and a waterslide that are an oasis in the summer months. The 280,000-acre Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument is popular for its campgrounds and dirt-packed hiking trails through scenic desert mountain views with native and flora and fauna, like California fan palms and white-headed woodpeckers. Many golf clubs here are part of private communities, but Desert Willow Golf Resort is a public highlight offering two 18-hole courses.
Currently, the city has plans to expand its recreation scene with DSRT Surf, a park that will include a 5-acre pool and is scheduled to finish construction by 2026. The city’s also in the designing phase for Millenium Park, a 27-acre space set to be built in northern Palm Desert.
Desert Willow is an 18-hole golf course in Palm Desert that is open to the public.
Civic Center Park in Palm Desert has a skate park and other recreational facilities.
See a variety of wildlife while hiking in the Santa Rosa mountains near Palm Desert.
Palm Desert residents enjoy an intense game of Pickleball at Civic Center Park.
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Palm Desert schools receive high marks from Niche
Palm Desert is part of the Desert Sands Unified School District and the Palm Springs Unified School District, rated A-minus and B-minus by Niche, respectively. The Desert Sands district has an enrollment of 21,000, and its high school students may take career and technical education courses in subjects like agriscience, cosmetology and computer science. The Palm Springs district serves 21,000 students, and those in high school may take dual-enrollment courses for college credit through College of the Desert. The local, A-plus-rated Xavier College Preparatory School is a private Catholic school known for its rigorous academics, as well as service opportunities and top music programs, like jazz band and drumline.
Gerald R. Ford Elementary School in Palm Desert focuses on student success.
Palm Desert High School provides many extracurricular activities for students.
Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School near Palm Desert offers a great education experience.
Palm Springs High School students can take courses for credit at the College of the Desert.
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Palms to Pines Scenic Byway and commuting options
Palm Desert is about 122 miles from Los Angeles via Interstate 10. Coachella Valley hubs like Indio and Palm Springs are within 15 miles via Route 111. Route 75, also referred to as the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, leads about 51 miles to the San Jacinto Mountains, and is known for its striking views of the Coachella Valley’s desert mountain landscape. City streets are sidewalk-lined and bike-friendly, so locals aren’t totally car-dependent. Thomas Soule, public affairs manager for Palm Desert, says “Palm Desert is one of the best urban cycling areas in the country, which is a great way to get out of your car and experience the desert from a new perspective.” SunLine buses also operate in the city, offering convenient routes throughout the Coachella Valley. Desert Oasis Healthcare Immediate Care - Palm Desert is located within the city, and the 24-hour Desert Regional Medical Center is about 15 miles away in Palm Springs. Palm Springs International Airport is about 12 miles away.
Crime and environmental concerns
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the total number of violent- and property-related crimes reported in Palm Desert decreased about 15% between 2013 and 2023, from 2,300 to 2,000; since 2018, about 92% of these FBI-reported incidents have been property-related, compared to 80% nationally. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office posts a weekly incident report detailing any significant crimes that may have occurred. Residents can partner with local police through the Citizens on Patrol program, which involves city patrols and assisting with community events.
Extreme heat and wildfires are the main environmental concerns in Palm Desert. Summer temperatures regularly top 100 degrees, so air-conditioning’s essential and private pools are sought-after. There haven’t been any recent wildfires in Palm Desert, but there are three fire stations in the city that respond to local emergencies.
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