What it's like to live in Cathedral City
Cathedral City is a smaller city in California with commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Cathedral City deals with home prices well above the national average, unemployment above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Short commutes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Above-average unemployment
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Extreme summer heat
How Cathedral City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Cathedral City
Based on Cathedral City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,202
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $64,040 a year
- 59% of Cathedral City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$90,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $45,310
- Homes cost 6.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 13% above US
$1,601/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,601 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $453,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $453,100 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 28% above US
5.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 5.5%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
334 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1162/100k · Cathedral City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers run seriously hot, with average highs pushing 107°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 48°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 32% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Joshua Tree National Park (36 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Cathedral City's strongest point is commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and unemployment above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,601/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up, anyone who doesn't drive, and people who struggle with heat.
See all the data for Cathedral City →·All California cities →
Other places near Cathedral City
All California guides →Moving to Palm Springs →
5 mi away · pop. 45,070
Rent $1,562/mo · Income $73,119
Compare with Cathedral City →Moving to Rancho Mirage →
5 mi away · pop. 17,563
Rent $1,510/mo · Income $107,364
Compare with Cathedral City →Moving to Palm Desert →
9 mi away · pop. 51,990
Rent $1,778/mo · Income $77,513
Compare with Cathedral City →Moving to Desert Hot Springs →
9 mi away · pop. 33,200
Rent $1,412/mo · Income $52,761
Compare with Cathedral City →Not sure Cathedral City is the one?
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