What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Desert Hot Springs, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Desert Hot Springs is a city in Riverside County, California, with an estimated population of 33,917. It anchors the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area. The population grew 1.1% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Desert Hot Springs is $379,672 as of 2026-04, down 3.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.5% annual growth (-4.3% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Desert Hot Springs average $1,848 per month, up 3.4% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 61 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-3.0% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Healthy 5-year run: +5.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
- Net positive migration: population up 1.1% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
Things to know first
- Cooling: -3.0% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
- Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.
More about Desert Hot Springs
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.