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Economy, jobs and prices in Palmdale, California: official figures

The median household income in Palmdale was $81,770 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 400th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the California median $99,122.

Median household income
$81,770
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
8.3%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
39.9 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,802
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$471,000
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
66.2%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
93.0%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Palmdale?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Palmdale averaged $29,441 a year in 2020-2024, 89th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; California: $49,513).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Palmdale?

Palmdale's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.429 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 264th least unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Palmdale, California?

8.3% of the civilian labor force in Palmdale was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (6,192 people), 70th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and California's 6.6%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Palmdale are working?

61.3% of Palmdale's 121,655 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 149th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Palmdale have jobs?

68,267 residents of Palmdale held civilian jobs, 56.1% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 105 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Palmdale?

The largest industry group for working residents of Palmdale was education, health care and social assistance (22.8% of employed residents), followed by manufacturing (11.8%) and retail trade (11.2%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Palmdale work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 11.8% of working residents of Palmdale, 206th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 10.1% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Palmdale, California?

Commuters in Palmdale took 39.9 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 11th longest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 29.6% travelled an hour or more and 17.0% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Palmdale get to work?

9.1% of workers living in Palmdale worked from home in 2020-2024, 158th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 72.5% drove to work alone, 14.2% carpooled, 0.9% used public transport and 0.7% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Palmdale, California?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Palmdale was $1,802 a month in 2020-2024, 272nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; California: $2,036).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Palmdale?

Owner-occupied homes in Palmdale had a median value of $471,000 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 294th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; California: $734,700).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Palmdale?

The median home value in Palmdale was 5.8 times the median household income, 242nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Palmdale, California own their home?

66.2% of the 46,373 occupied homes in Palmdale were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 15,672 were rented, 220th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; California: 55.9%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Palmdale have broadband?

93.0% of households in Palmdale had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 378th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; California: 93.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Palmdale have no internet?

5.3% of households in Palmdale (2,454) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 354th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 14.5% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Palmdale compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 400 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
397Smyrna$81,926
398Monterey Park$81,855
399Irving$81,830
400Palmdale$81,770
401Durham$81,619
402Grand Prairie$81,619
403Lancaster$81,511
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 735 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
732Waterbury$29,542
733Killeen$29,531
734Akron$29,457
735Palmdale$29,441
736Racine$29,400
737Dearborn Heights$29,366
738Kalamazoo$29,341
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 560 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
557Cape Coral0.429
558Rancho Cucamonga0.429
559Concord0.429
560Palmdale0.429
561Livermore0.429
562Westfield0.429
563San Bernardino0.428
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 70 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
67West New York8.4%
68Port Arthur8.4%
69Richmond8.3%
70Palmdale8.3%
71Decatur8.3%
72Memphis8.3%
73Inglewood8.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 675 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
672Jackson61.3%
673Lawton61.3%
674Camarillo61.3%
675Palmdale61.3%
676Pontiac61.3%
677Medford61.3%
678Scottsdale61.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 11 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
8Victorville40.4
9New York40.3
10Brentwood40.0
11Palmdale39.9
12Pittsburg38.0
13Fulshear37.8
14Manteca37.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 666 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
663San Angelo9.1%
664Harrisonburg9.1%
665Augusta9.1%
666Palmdale9.1%
667Colton9.1%
668Scranton9.0%
669Passaic9.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 469 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
466Pocatello0.9%
467Missouri City0.9%
468Sunrise0.9%
469Palmdale0.9%
470Kettering0.9%
471Torrance0.9%
472Chattanooga0.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 206 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
203Anaheim11.8%
204Vista11.8%
205Norwalk11.8%
206Palmdale11.8%
207Oxnard11.8%
208Longview11.8%
209O'Fallon11.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 429 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
426Fall River22.8%
427Sunrise22.8%
428Sacramento22.8%
429Palmdale22.8%
430St. Charles22.7%
431Tulare22.7%
432Kansas City22.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 272 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
269Lakewood$1,806
270Lakeville$1,806
271Meridian$1,805
272Palmdale$1,802
273Wheaton$1,799
274Federal Way$1,797
275Georgetown$1,795
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 294 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
291McKinney$471,800
292Union City$471,600
293Goodyear$471,300
294Palmdale$471,000
295Aurora$469,100
296Chico$468,100
297Provo$467,200
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 239 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
236Boise City5.8x
237Beaverton5.8x
238Tracy5.8x
239Palmdale5.8x
240Greeley5.8x
241Yuba City5.8x
242Wilmington5.8x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 220 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
217Aurora66.4%
218Shoreline66.3%
219Novi66.3%
220Palmdale66.2%
221Rialto66.2%
222Great Falls66.1%
223Novato66.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 378 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
375Grand Prairie93.0%
376Hampton93.0%
377San Francisco93.0%
378Palmdale93.0%
379Richmond93.0%
380Anaheim93.0%
381Cape Coral92.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Palmdale ranks 354 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
351Commerce City5.3%
352Medford5.3%
353Casa Grande5.3%
354Palmdale5.3%
355Aurora5.3%
356Oxnard5.3%
357Bradenton5.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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