What are the schools like in Palmdale, CA?

Palmdale is served primarily by Palmdale Elementary. The district operates 23 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 23.2:1.

What is the median household income in Palmdale?

The median household income in Palmdale, CA is $78,414 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.4%.

What is the weather like in Palmdale, CA?

Palmdale has an average high temperature of 59.5°F in January and 97.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 7.3 inches.

Palmdale, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Palmdale, CA affordable or expensive?

Palmdale's cost of living index is 116, where 100 represents the national average. This means Palmdale is 16% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $397,500 and the median rent is $1,625 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Palmdale, CA?

Palmdale has a violent crime rate of 551.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1865.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Palmdale, CA a Good Place to Live?

Palmdale is a mid-sized city of 166,895 in California, with a median household income of $78,414 and a 7.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 116 (US average = 100), which is 16% above the national average.

Strengths: Palmdale's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Palmdale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Palmdale 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: 115.5

Palmdale's overall cost of living index is 115.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Palmdale costs roughly 16% more than the average American city.

Metric	Palmdale, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$397,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,625	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	66.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$78,414	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Palmdale's violent crime rate is 551.0 per 100,000 residents — 45% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

551.0 /100k

Property Crime

1865.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Palmdale is served primarily by Palmdale Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Palmdale, CA	National Avg
School District	Palmdale Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	23	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	23.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	76.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Palmdale sees average highs of 59.5°F in January and 97.6°F in July, with 7.3 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Palmdale, CA
Average High — January	59.5°F
Average High — July	97.6°F
Annual Precipitation	7.3"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Palmdale, CA	National Avg
Population	166,895	—
Median Age	33.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	41.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	35.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	12.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	43.6%	18.9%
Asian	4.7%	6.3%
Under 18	29.0%	22.2%
65 and over	10.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Desert View Highlands, CA 3 mi Quartz Hill, CA 8 mi Acton, CA 8 mi Lancaster, CA 8 mi Littlerock, CA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Palmdale

Palmdale, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

93551 93550 93552 93591

Palmdale vs Other Cities

Palmdale, CA vs Desert View Highlands, CA Palmdale, CA vs Quartz Hill, CA Palmdale, CA vs Acton, CA Palmdale, CA vs Lancaster, CA Palmdale, CA vs Littlerock, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Palmdale, CA affordable or expensive?

Palmdale's cost of living index is 116, where 100 is the national average. That puts Palmdale roughly 16% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $397,500 and median rent is $1,625/month.

What is the crime rate in Palmdale, CA?

Palmdale's violent crime rate is 551.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1865.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Palmdale?

Public schools in Palmdale are operated by Palmdale Elementary. The district has 23 elementary, 5 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23.2:1. 16.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Palmdale, CA a good place to live?

Palmdale, CA has a population of 166,895, a median household income of $78,414, and an unemployment rate of 7.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Palmdale?

Palmdale averages 59.5°F in January and 97.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 7.3 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Palmdale?

Palmdale, CA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 93551, 93550, 93552, 93591.

What is the population of Palmdale?

The population of Palmdale, California is 166,895 with a median age of 33.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Palmdale?

Key numbers for living in Palmdale: cost of living index 116 (100 = US average), median home $397,500, median household income $78,414, crime index 123 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Palmdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.