Desert Hot Springs, CA
Census place 0618996 · pop 33,200
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
147 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
87 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
100/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
17.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
19.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
16.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
41.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
32.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
50.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$52,761 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
492 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
18.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
14.9% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,957/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$354,800 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
89.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
0.99% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities
1206 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+16.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
Frequently asked
- Is Desert Hot Springs, CA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Desert Hot Springs scores 24/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is population growth (5yr) and its weakest is unhealthy air days. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Desert Hot Springs, CA?
- Desert Hot Springs reports 492 violent crimes per 100k and 1206 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Desert Hot Springs, CA expensive to live in?
- Desert Hot Springs has a median home value of $354,800 and typical rent around $1,957/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Desert Hot Springs, CA?
- Its weakest measured area is unhealthy air days (147 days) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Desert Hot Springs, CA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is population growth (5yr) (+16.1%) — 90/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.