Desert Hot Springs 49 Poor
Desert Hot Springs Livability #1,149 ranked city in California#25,774 ranked city in the USARanks better than 12% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Desert Hot Springs

PROS
  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are attributed to this area, possibly pointing to a favorable home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A large portion of amenities are not ideally situated within walking distance, potentially requiring residents to utilize a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Access to public transportation in this particular area may be limited, which can result in longer-than-average commute times to reach workplaces.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The cost of living in this area is notably high, making it a more expensive place to live. You'll find higher expenses for everyday goods and services, housing and groceries.

  • Employment Employment

    Low income levels and high unemployment rates results in a low score in the employment category. It could prove difficult to find well-paying employment in this area.

  • Schools Schools

    The lower than average schools score may be influenced by below-average education levels, subpar reading and math scores and the lack of access to local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Desert Hot Springs?

Desert Hot Springs is a medium-sized city located in the state of California. The city has a population of 30,374 inhabitants. More than a quarter of the residents of Desert Hot Springs identify themselves as Hispanic or Latino, and 39% of the population speak Spanish as their primary or secondary language. Desert Hot Springs is very likely to be a great place to live for singles as only 44%, of the population (over fifteen) are classified as married. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Desert Hot Springs, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 27 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Desert Hot Springs could be a positive experience compared to other cities in California if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Desert Hot Springs and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, commute, health & safety, housing and other important metrics.

The livability score in Desert Hot Springs is 49 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 11th percentile of all cities across America. Compared to the US average, this area has a score which ranks among the lowest in the nation, and it is not considered a very livable city. If we take a closer look at each of the categories individually, we see that Desert Hot Springs ranks well for housing (B+). On a less positive note, Desert Hot Springs does not have favorable ranks for the following: amenities (F), crime (F), cost of living (D), education (F) and employment (F). If we take a look at the data, we can find out why.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Desert Hot Springs excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Certain items on your wish list like shopping, restaurants, nightlife, parks and proximity to public transportation are all important things to look for. Having said that, perhaps the most important metric to consider when contemplating a move to Desert Hot Springs is real estate affordability. The median home price for Desert Hot Springs homes is $393,603, which is 46.2% lower than the California average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Desert Hot Springs, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 7, which is 9.1% lower than the California average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Desert Hot Springs

See all the best places to live around Desert Hot Springs

How Do You Rate The Livability In Desert Hot Springs?

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Compare Desert Hot Springs, CA Livability

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      Desert Hot Springs transportation information

      Statistic Desert Hot Springs California National
      Average one way commute27min28min26min
      Workers who drive to work81.2%73.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.3%10.6%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit2.3%5.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%1.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.9%2.7%2.8%
      Working from home3.2%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Desert Hot Springs, CA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.