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Living in
Rancho Mirage.
About
Life in Rancho Mirage
This is a city built around retirement and golf, but don't write it off if you're not yet 65—just know what you're getting into. Rancho Mirage is a low-density desert community nestled against the Santa Rosa Mountains with a median age of 66, which shapes everything from the restaurant scene to community events to the pace of life. The population hovers around 17,000, and while seasonal visitors can push that past 20,000, the vibe stays quiet and insulated compared to Palm Springs just minutes away.
Rancho Mirage at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
66.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
11.7%
Foreign-Born
16.0%
Broadband Internet
92.3%
of households
Population Growth
+5.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.0% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Rancho Mirage: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Rancho Mirage, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (26.8%), and 9.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
8.3%
of residents
65 and Older
52.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
8.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.9%
of households
Married Couples
50.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
1.92
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 26% below CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Rancho Mirage
In Rancho Mirage, rent runs 26% below the CA average, and home values are 10% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
106.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,326
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
82.0%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1986
median year built
Vacant Homes
40.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $837,660 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Rancho Mirage and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Riverside County, which includes Rancho Mirage, is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
Rancho Mirage: Riverside County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Riverside County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Rancho Mirage is less than 1% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Rancho Mirage Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area
Commute25.3 min avg
How Rancho Mirage residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Rancho Mirage, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
Small hub1.7M passengers boarded in 2025
- 70 mi
Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Medium hub3.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 83 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 48% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Rancho Mirage runs 48% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
169.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,665.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Rancho Mirage Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 34 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Riverside County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Riverside County, which includes Rancho Mirage, the most common type is high wind, with 34 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | High Wind | $161,000 |
| 2024 | 62 | High Wind | $527,000 |
| 2023 | 76 | High Wind | $455,000 |
| 2022 | 113 | High Wind | $240,000 |
| 2021 | 94 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 58 | Excessive Heat | $2.1M |
| 2019 | 62 | Excessive Heat | $112.2M |
| 2018 | 58 | High Wind | $1.6M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
201 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Riverside County, county-wide
Rancho Mirage is less than 1% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality80 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Riverside County, which includes Rancho Mirage, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
80
Good Days
39
per year
Moderate Days
217
per year
Unhealthy Days
34
per year
Riverside County, county-wide
Rancho Mirage is less than 1% of Riverside County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate107°F summers, 48°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Rancho Mirage has hot summers (avg high 107°F) and warm winters (avg low 48°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
87°/60°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
107°/77°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
91°/64°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
4.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
177
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
17
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71°F | 48°F | 1.14" |
| Feb | 74°F | 50°F | 1.11" |
| Mar | 81°F | 54°F | 0.51" |
| Apr | 87°F | 59°F | 0.09" |
| May | 95°F | 66°F | 0.02" |
| Jun | 104°F | 73°F | 0.00" |
| Jul | 109°F | 79°F | 0.25" |
| Aug | 108°F | 80°F | 0.14" |
| Sep | 102°F | 74°F | 0.24" |
| Oct | 91°F | 65°F | 0.20" |
| Nov | 79°F | 53°F | 0.23" |
| Dec | 69°F | 46°F | 0.68" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
4.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Eisenhower Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Desert Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.5 mi away · Palm Springs
John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.8 mi away · Indio
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.0:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage's student/teacher ratio is 22.0:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 48.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
2
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
48.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.0:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Rancho Mirage (within 15 miles)
California Indian Nations College
4.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 142 students · in-state tuition $7,680
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Joshua Tree National Park, 35 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Joshua Tree National Park (35 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Joshua Tree National Park
National Park
35 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
46 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
89 mi awayPublic Libraries in Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage Public Library
71-100 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage
Cities Near Rancho Mirage
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Rancho Mirage?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Rancho Mirage FAQ
Is Rancho Mirage, California affordable?⌄
Rancho Mirage's median rent is $1,510/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $107,364/year. Median home value is $807,200.
Is Rancho Mirage, California safe?⌄
Rancho Mirage's violent crime rate was 170 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1666 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Rancho Mirage, California?⌄
Riverside County, which includes Rancho Mirage, has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Rancho Mirage, California?⌄
The cost of living in Rancho Mirage is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,510/month and median household income is $107,364/year. The median home value is $807,200. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Rancho Mirage, California?⌄
The average commute in Rancho Mirage is 25 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from