Palm Desert, California
What It Is Like to Retire in Palm desert
Palm Desert, a beautiful vacation destination and a popular retirement town, is located in California's Coachella Valley, approximately 14 miles east of Palm Springs. The population was a little over 51,000 in 2020, but that number swells by over 30,000 during the winter months with the arrival of snowbirds, bringing the average age here to 54. Palm Desert is surrounded by three mountains which contribute to its warm year-round temperature and sunny skies. It is a popular spot for golfers as well as retirees, with over 30 top-notch golf courses and resorts, and several retirement communities. College of the Desert, a community college, is located here, and a few celebrities are said to have homes here also. Photo of El Paseo courtesy of Wikipedia and Visitor7, Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0/ Watch this short Youtube video presented by PalmDesertTravel:
Where to Retire in Palm desert and Home Prices
Zillow.com reports the median home value at $560,557 in mid-2023. There are many condos and townhouse developments, Sun City Palm Desert, a community of close to 5,000 homes for 55+ is located here along with several other communities.
What Is Special about Palm desert
Palm Desert offers a lot of outdoor recreation with many golf courses, hiking and biking trails, parks and an aquatic center. It also has a performing arts center, shops, restaurants, art galleries, and sunny skies almost everyday.
What Is Not Special about Palm desert
High cost of living, and summers are very hot, with temperatures reaching over 100 degrees.
Who Will Like Retirement in Palm desert
Palm Desert is a nice town for snowbirds who like to golf and enjoy all types of outdoor activity. There is a transit system and an international airport in nearby Palm Springs. The Joslyn Center is a very active senior center that offers activites, lifelong learning, and social and health programs. There are several 55+ active adult communities here.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Retail and Tourism drive the economy. JW Marriott Desert Springs Golf Resort is the largest employer.
Climate and Physical Environment
Palm Desert boasts over 350 days of sunshine each year with average January temperature at 58 degrees and July's average is 96 degrees. Summer temperatures can easily go over 100 degrees.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Palm Desert boasts upscale shopping on El Paseo Drive, a mile long strip of over 250 shops, dining and the arts. Palm Desert also is home to the McCallum Theatre, a state-of-the-art performing arts center, an art museum, several parks, an aquatic center, amphitheater, and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens.
Crime
Palm Desert's crime rate is a little lower than the national average.
Medical facilities
Eisenhower Medical Center provides primary care services here, its hospital is in nearby Rancho Mirage.
Transportation
Sunline Transit provides transportation in the Coachella Valley; Palm Springs International Airport is just 13 miles away.
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