Is Indian Wells, CA a Good Place to Live?
Indian Wells is a small town of 4,832 in California, with a median household income of $132,479 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 108 (US average = 100), which is 8% above the national average.
Strengths: Indian Wells stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Indian Wells is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Indian Wells city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 107.9Indian Wells's overall cost of living index is 107.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Indian Wells costs roughly 8% more than the average American city.
| Metric | Indian Wells, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $941,200 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $873 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $132,479 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Very SafeIndian Wells's violent crime rate is 204.5 per 100,000 residents — 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Indian Wells is served primarily by Desert Sands Unified. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Indian Wells, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Desert Sands Unified | — |
| Elementary Schools | 19 | — |
| Middle Schools | 7 | — |
| High Schools | 7 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 23.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.1% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 97.8% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Indian Wells sees average highs of 70.3°F in January and 105.8°F in July, with 5.0 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | Indian Wells, CA |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 70.3°F |
| Average High — July | 105.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 5.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | Indian Wells, CA | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,832 | — |
| Median Age | 68.3 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 25.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 89.1% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 3.5% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 2.9% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 5.9% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 57.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Indian Wells
Indian Wells, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: