As more and more families move into the area, the year-round economy is booming. The average age is 48 years - a significant change from just a decade ago when the city was considered primarily a retirement area.

Once a seasonal destination for sunbirds, Palm Desert has rapidly developed into a great place to call home year-round. With 360 days of sunshine, acres of untouched land, magnificent mountain views, an array of scenic golf courses, an abundance of shopping and dining facilities and numerous unique attractions to experience, it's no wonder the Coachella Valley community is now home to some 41,000 residents. Palm Desert encompasses 26 square miles in Riverside County and is known for its clear blue skies and clean fresh air, thanks to the three towering mountain ranges that surround the valley. Residents are provided with all the amenities of a big city in a small-town setting.

Palm Desert is a world-renowned vacation spot and a popular place to retire. It is also a great place to do business. Many entrepreneurs and corporate office teams have relocated to the area to take advantage of the resource-laden Business Support Center. The area has also attracted many families seeking affordable housing, quality education and well-paying jobs. Palm Desert is rated one of the safest cities in Southern California.

Palm Desert, the neighbor to the east of Rancho Mirage, is considered the Valley’s retail, educational and cultural center. You can spend a leisurely morning shopping up and down El Paseo, the Deserts own Rodeo Drive. On El Paseo, you can shop in The Gardens, an upscale shopping and dining treat. You'll find Sullivan's Steak House (great for martinis), Pacifica, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tommy Bahamas, Williams & Sonoma, and more. Tiffany's is across the street from the locally-owned Jeweler, Frascas. Back on El Paseo, there are high-end doggie boutiques, pastry shops, Italian markets, specialty stores and more restaurants. If you're looking to continue your shopping, Palm Desert also has the Westfield Shopping Center currently undergoing major renovations and home to a Nordstrom’s by 2009.

Residents and visitors alike fill the McCallum Theater for the Performing Arts.　 There’s even a theater known for its dedication to the independent filmmakers of today.

The City boasts not one, but two College Campuses. College of the Desert offers two types of academic tracks; (1) lower division transfer courses required for most majors and professions at four-year universities or colleges and, (2) a wide variety of curricular offerings designed to meet the needs of those preparing for immediate employment, for those who are currently employed and need to upgrade their skills, or for those who are interested in a job retraining program and personal development.　　

Each weekend, the College of the Desert transforms its parking lot into a shoppers delight, full of produce, local arts, and musicians along with a number of items you can’t resist.　

The UC Riverside now has a Palm Desert campus, with MBA and MFA programs, as well as executive education offerings.

Palm Desert has gated communities, upscale private country clubs and a city-hosted 4th of July fireworks show that attracts thousands. From Big Horn Country Club, to the more tennis and family oriented communities like Palm Valley Country Club, Palm Desert has it all. It may be the shopping, restaurants or proximity, or perhaps it is the 350 days of sunshine annually that invite residents outside and attract an additional 21,000 visitors each year.

Many of the world's greatest　recreation facilities are found in Palm Desert.　 Enjoy holes at the city's prestigious　golf courses　and resorts, or tennis at one of the numerous resorts that feature night lit courts. On a grand scale, The Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort　is a nationally-acclaimed resort with luxury amenities, meeting/function space, sparkling pools & spas, golf, tennis and restaurants. The hotel recently completed an extensive renovation to continue and enhance its reputation as a five star resort.

Key Palm Desert statistics:

49,280 Full time residents / 21,000 seasonal
Median age: 52
Median household income: $51,277
3　million visitors per year

Palm Desert actively supports the arts by having placed more than 100 pieces of sculpture in highly visible locations along El Paseo and in Civic Center Park.

Palm Desert has grown to over 44,000 permanent residents, with an estimated additional 20,000 seasonal residents during the winter. Full-time population for the entire Coachella Valley is 352,000.