Rancho Mirage, CA — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·California·Rancho Mirage

Riverside County · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario · population 18,001

Small-town feel
View watchlist →
63
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Rancho Mirage stands

Rents up 10.6% in the last year.

Median home $846,451
1-year -2.6%
5-yr CAGR +6.8%
vs 5-yr peak -5.8%
Population +1.4%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2022-07$846k$412k$587k$761k$935k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
15/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
58/100
Workable for remote workers
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$4,055/mo$2,888$3,668$4,448202220242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent106131100120140202220242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 17.4
Lean buy

At a 17.4 price-to-rent ratio, Rancho Mirage is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
37 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
73 · w22%
Distance from peak
57 · w18%
Population growth
72 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
69 · w10%
Long thesis

Rancho Mirage has held up across the cycle: home values at $846,451 with +6.8% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Rancho Mirage carries a $846,451 median home with only -2.6% YoY. Premium pricing in a flat tape is the bear setup — you're paying for the trend that already ran while new buyers can't afford to extend it.

About Rancho Mirage

Rancho Mirage is a city in Riverside County, California, with an estimated population of 18,001. It anchors the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area. The population grew 1.4% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Rancho Mirage is $846,451 as of 2026-04, down 2.6% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.8% annual growth (-5.8% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Rancho Mirage average $4,055 per month, up 10.6% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 63 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

Bull case

Healthy 5-year run: +6.8% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
Net positive migration: population up 1.4% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
Hot rental market: rents up 10.6% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

Bear case

Expensive AND not growing: median home $846,451 with only -2.6% YoY. You’re paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
Cooling: -2.6% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
Rental squeeze: rents up 10.6% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Riverside County right now.

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Riverside County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Rancho Mirage

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
60° / 41°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
82° / 60°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
258
~71% of year
Annual precip
22″ rain
8″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very high
Earthquake
Very high
Flood
Moderate

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Rancho Mirage listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
65%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$91,500
California state median
Top industries (state-level)
TechEntertainmentAgriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Rancho Mirage

Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.

See all California cities →    Browse best-of lists →