Living in Palmdale, CA
Palmdale is the 164th-largest city in the US, home to about 162,000 people in 2025. It has lost 4.5% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (113.6 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 161,845-4.5% since 2020
- Median home value
- $471,0005.8 years of median income
- Median rent
- $1,802/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $81,770median, per year
- Price level
- 113.6US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 60° / 98°lows 35° / 68°
- Average commute
- 40 min9% work from home
- State income tax
- 13.3%top rate, graduated
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County: Los Angeles County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 2,657 ft
Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Cost of living in Palmdale
The median home in Palmdale is worth $471,000 and the median household earns $81,770 a year, so a typical home costs about 5.8 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $1,802 a month, about 26% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area at 113.6, with housing at 170.4 and goods at 106.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $85,200 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.
What would my salary be worth in Palmdale?
Palmdale weather
Average highs run from 60°F in January to 98°F in July, and January nights average 35°F. It gets 7 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 118 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are April to May and October.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Palmdale
People and work
The median resident is 33.0 years old, and 17% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 66% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 40 minutes; 9% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 33.084th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 17%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 66%of households
- People per sq mile
- 1,526106.1 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.1% bike
- Unemployment
- 8.3%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 15.7%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1989median year
Who moves to Palmdale, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from San Bernardino (San Bernardino County), Riverside (Riverside County) and San Diego (San Diego County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to San Bernardino (San Bernardino County), Riverside (Riverside County) and Las Vegas (Clark County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for Los Angeles County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: wildfire, inland flooding, earthquake, lightning.
Home prices
+1.2% in a year
Up 32% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA (MSAD) area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
11% good days
99 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Palmdale
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Pasadena City College 30 miles
- College of the Canyons 30 miles
- Glendale Community College 29 miles
- Los Angeles Mission College 26 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Palmdale
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Burbank Airport BUR | 30 mi | 3,383,237 |
| Ontario International Airport ONT | 46 mi | 3,494,554 |
| Los Angeles International Airport LAX | 48 mi | 37,760,834 |
| Long Beach Airport LGB | 53 mi | 2,031,810 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Palmdale
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antelope Valley Community College District | 9 mi | 11,534 | $85 | n/a |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Palmdale
Half the years, the last spring night at 32°F comes before March 10, so plant tender crops after that date or wait a week or two to be safer. Fall color depends on the trees, but the US Department of Agriculture says the brightest leaves come with warm, sunny days and cool nights, and that frost ruins vivid color. Here, cool 36°F nights usually start around November 7 and the first frost comes around November 19.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Palmdale, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Palmdale.
Wildfire smoke in Palmdale
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Palmdale on about 37 days a year, including about 8 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Palmdale
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 46,373 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Palmdale
Downtown Palmdale is in these districts. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palmdale Elementary School District | K to 12 | 17,941 | 29 | 23.2 |
| Antelope Valley Union Joint High School District | K to 12 | 21,231 | 13 | 23.9 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Lancaster Elementary School District (13,769 students), Westside Union Elementary School District (9,078 students), Eastside Union Elementary School District (3,032 students), Keppel Union Elementary School District (2,559 students), Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District (1,056 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Palmdale's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Palmdale's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Modesto, CA70% matchCompare
- Rancho Cordova, CA69% matchCompare
- Citrus Heights, CA68% matchCompare
- Sacramento, CA67% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Palmdale
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Palmdale
- Mount Waterman 18 miles
- Buckhorn Ski Club 19 miles
- Kratka Ridge 19 miles
- Mountain High 27 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Palmdale
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Nothing stands out in the data. Locals, what do you love about Palmdale?
Cons
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 14% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
- Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
- Data Summers are long and hot: about 118 days a year reach 90°F.
- Data Commutes are long: 40 minutes each way on average.
- Data The population has shrunk 4.5% since 2020.
Palmdale report card from locals
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Palmdale through locals' eyes
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Cities near Palmdale
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, CA | 9 mi | 170,084 | $446,600 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Santa Clarita, CA | 29 mi | 228,430 | $784,700 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Pasadena, CA | 30 mi | 135,804 | $1,093,300 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Burbank, CA | 30 mi | 102,988 | $1,089,100 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Glendale, CA | 32 mi | 187,160 | $1,102,300 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Alhambra, CA | 34 mi | 79,820 | $857,800 | 113.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Palmdale ranks 92nd of 144 in our best suburbs of Los Angeles ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Palmdale with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Palmdale a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show no standout advantages on cost or climate; the trade-offs are high prices, 118 days a year at 90°F or hotter, long commutes, a shrinking population. Compare Palmdale side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Palmdale?
The Census Bureau estimates Palmdale had 161,845 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 169,413 in April 2020 (-4.5%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Palmdale?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in the Palmdale area. The median household here earns $81,770.
When is the best time to visit Palmdale?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, April to May and October are the most comfortable months. July averages 98°F and January 60°F for daytime highs.
What county is Palmdale in?
Palmdale is in Los Angeles County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Palmdale in?
Palmdale is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Palmdale?
About 2,657 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Palmdale. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Palmdale, CA station. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.