Moving to Palm Springs

Palm Springs wears its personality on its sleeve: homes for sale in Palm Springs offer sunlit streets, mid-century modern architecture, and a skyline framed by the San Jacinto Mountains. If you are thinking about a move to Palm Springs, expect a desert oasis that blends resort-style amenities, a lively cultural scene, and easy access to outdoor recreation. 

Palm Springs sits in the heart of the Coachella Valley in Riverside County. The city is one of nine municipalities that together form Greater Palm Springs, which includes Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and Palm Desert among others. Its central location in the valley means you are usually within a short drive of regional attractions, festival sites, mountain trails, and desert parks.

Geographically, Palm Springs acts as a gateway to the high desert and places like Joshua Tree National Park, while the nearby San Jacinto range gives the city a dramatic backdrop and seasonal cooling at higher elevations. That proximity to mountains and protected public lands is a big part of the outdoor-recreation and lifestyle draw for people moving to Palm Springs.

Homes in Palm Springs range from compact downtown condos and restored mid-century modern cottages to luxury estates tucked into foothill enclaves. The market mixes condos and single-family houses with a notable stock of resort-style properties and golf-course communities; buyers will find both affordable condos and high-end luxury estates.

Overall, the local market around mid-2025 feels pretty balanced — not really favoring buyers or sellers. Conditions depend on price segment, local inventory, and short-term demand from second-home buyers and investors attracted to hospitality-oriented rental potential. Work with a local real estate agent who understands neighborhood micro-markets and the Palm Springs real estate market nuances if you plan to buy.

Palm Springs remains relatively affordable compared with some Southern California coastal metros, but housing costs and some goods are higher than the national average because of tourism-driven demand and resort-area pricing. Overall living costs reflect a mix: grocery and utility prices that track statewide averages, but housing and certain services that skew higher in tourist seasons. For relocation planning, budget for higher lodging or short-term rental costs if you are bridging a move during a busy festival period.

 Many people relocating here offset some discretionary costs by choosing condos or smaller single-family homes that match the downsized, resort-style lifestyle Palm Springs offers.

Electric power in Palm Springs is handled primarily through Southern California Edison; their online move and customer resources make starting or transferring electric service straightforward when you relocate. Natural gas service for the area is provided by Southern California Gas Company, which offers start/stop/transfer options for new residents. Water and sewer services inside city boundaries are typically handled by regional agencies; Desert Water Agency supplies domestic water in many parts of Palm Springs and publishes account and start-service details for movers.

Setting up utilities is usually a mix of online forms and a deposit/establishment fee for some services; for example, the Desert Water Agency lists account-start procedures and fees on its site. If you are relocating, plan to contact each utility about two weeks ahead of possession to ensure electricity, gas, and water are active when you take occupancy.

Crime reports for 2024 show a slight dip in overall offenses compared to the previous year.

When you're considering safety in a new neighborhood, it’s a good idea to compare city crime stats with those from nearby areas and the state. Chatting with neighbors is also a great way to get a feel for the area.

It’s also useful to keep statewide and national trends in mind. California’s crime report for 2024 shows mixed results, with some types of crime going up while others dropped. Nationally, violent crime has decreased overall, according to the FBI's 2024 report. For a more specific picture, look at local crime maps, dive into reports from the Palm Springs Police Department, and always check out what people in the community are saying.

Palm Springs is famous for its sunshine: Greater Palm Springs markets the region as receiving more than 300 days of sunshine annually, a helpful shorthand for the sunny climate many newcomers cite as a reason to move. Summers are hot and dry, with daytime highs commonly well above 100°F in peak months; winters are mild and very pleasant, which is why many people from colder climates relocate or spend extended seasons here.

Because of the desert climate, air conditioning is a necessity for most homes during summer months, and heat-related planning—shade, energy-efficient cooling, and hydration—should be part of any relocation checklist. The San Jacinto Mountains nearby bring relief on higher-elevation hikes and provide scenic contrast to the city’s palm-lined boulevards.

The Palm Springs Unified School District serves the city and offers a mix of elementary, middle, and high schools plus alternative education programs; district profiles and school-by-school details are available through the California Department of Education. Schools in the district show a range of performance and specialty programs, so families considering a move to Palm Springs should look up specific campuses for test scores, program offerings, and enrollment policies.

If public schools are a priority, visit campuses and speak with district staff about boundaries, magnet programs, and any recent performance changes. 

Palm Springs has long depended on hospitality and healthcare as primary employment sectors. The presence of Palm Springs International Airport and a strong events calendar feeds hotel, restaurant, and service jobs that make up a large share of the local job market. 

If you plan to move to Palm Springs for work in a niche field, look at openings across the valley and consider whether remote work or commuting to larger metropolitan areas is a feasible option.

Most people here hop in the car for daily life. The street grid is easy to navigate, parking is rarely a hassle, and having your own wheels makes quick work of runs between downtown shops, golf courses, and the trailheads tucked against the base of the San Jacinto Mountains.

There is a bus system if you prefer not to drive. SunLine Transit Agency runs fixed-route buses throughout the Coachella Valley, including Route 111 that links Palm Springs with Cathedral City and Palm Desert. The buses are clean, affordable, and reliable during the day, but service tapers off at night and on some weekends, so it helps to check the timetable in advance.

For longer trips, Palm Springs International Airport sits just minutes from downtown and offers year-round flights to major hubs like Denver, Seattle, and Dallas, plus seasonal service to several Canadian cities. Rail fans will find limited Amtrak service at the small North Palm Springs station, but most long-distance travelers choose the airport or drive to larger stations on the Metrolink network closer to Los Angeles.

Living in Palm Springs means embracing a desert lifestyle that blends resort amenities and outdoor adventure. The city’s arts and culture scene; museums, film festivals, design events, and year-round music—pairs with a strong hospitality industry to make the area feel world-class in small-city scale. Many people who relocate here trade a bigger city’s bustle for a more laid-back rhythm, while still enjoying high-quality arts, dining, and wellness amenities.

Expect a lifestyle organized around the outdoor season: golf, hiking, pool culture, and festival calendars shape social life. That said, the desert’s extreme summer heat is a trade-off; planning daily rhythms around cooler times of day or seasonal migration between higher-elevation recreation and downtown life is part of how residents make the most of the Palm Springs home and community.

Downtown’s main drags weave together indie boutiques, sleek design showrooms, and a few big-name retailers, with everything from neighborhood coffee counters to reservation-only dining rooms in between. Vintage shops and art galleries hint at Palm Springs’ mid-century roots, while the essentials like grocery stores, hardware, household goods, are covered by familiar national chains scattered around the valley. 

If you rely on specific retail services or niche groceries, check exact neighborhood offerings during house-hunting; some suburban pockets serve daily needs very well, while others require a short drive to reach favorite shops or specialty markets.

Palm Springs is home to year-round festivals and plenty of outdoor activities. Signature annual events include the Palm Springs International Film Festival and a steady roster of concerts, art shows, and cultural programming; the region’s golf courses, hiking trails, and proximity to Joshua Tree make it a top spot for outdoor recreation and scenic exploration.

For outdoor days, explore Indian Canyons, take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway into cooler mountain air, hike local canyon trails, or drive to Joshua Tree for climbing and desert scenery. For cultural days, visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, attend Modernism Week events, or plan around film- and music-oriented festivals that draw visitors from across the country.

Downtown Palm Springs is compact and walkable, with easy access to restaurants, galleries, and nightlife; condos and smaller homes dominate the core. If you want a short walk to dining and cultural venues, focus on downtown blocks and the nearby half-mile radius rather than the broader valley.

Summer highs often soar above 100°F; due to the desert climate, extreme heat is a real trade-off of living here. Plan moving logistics for cooler months if possible, and ensure any home you buy has effective air conditioning and proper insulation.

Hospitality and tourism lead the local economy, but healthcare, public services, and small-business roles are available. Professionals in niche industries sometimes commute to larger inland or coastal metros or work remotely while living in the valley.