Palmdale CA
California · Pop. 164,634
Palmdale, CA: median household income of $81,770, median rent of $1,802/mo, 8.3% unemployment. Our verdict: Needs Work.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$81,770
per year
Median Rent
$1,802
per month
Median Home
$471k
home value
Unemployment
8.3%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
15.7%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
40 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Palmdale, CA Reality Check"
In Palmdale, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $81,770 and median rent is $1,802/month. A staggering 60% of renters here are housing-cost-burdened — spending 30% or more of their income just to keep a roof overhead. Median home value: $471,000 — that's 5.8× the median income. 66% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. Only 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The economy runs on trades, logistics, and service work — and the wages reflect that. Employment picture: 8.32% unemployment — a softer job market. Poverty rate: 15.7%. Average commute: 40 minutes — soul-taxing. Palmdale was founded in 1886 — that's 140 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 106.2 sq miles at 1,550 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 2,657 ft — high-altitude living. RoastMyCity overall score: 49/100 — Needs Work.