Rents are right about where Desert Hot Springs's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,038 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Desert Hot Springs is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2023.
Rent in Desert Hot Springs changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,761) is $1,319 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,370).
Yucca Valley, 20 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,827/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Desert Hot Springs. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Desert Hot Springs, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 16.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Desert Hot Springs, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Desert Hot Springs, CA has increased from $1,823 to $2,038, a 11.8% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $52,761 today, compared with $37,924 five years earlier. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 3.8% since 2021, moving from about 31,988 residents to roughly 33,200. Renters now make up 49.3% of households, compared with 52.7% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 16.7% of adults here, versus 14.5% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Desert Hot Springs on your salary?
At $2,038/mo, how Desert Hot Springs rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Desert Hot Springs rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Desert Hot Springs. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Desert Hot Springs
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Desert Hot Springs is $2,038/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,810/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,440/mo.
At 46% of local median household income ($52,761/yr), Desert Hot Springs ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Desert Hot Springs?
Is rent going up or down in Desert Hot Springs?
Which Desert Hot Springs neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Desert Hot Springs rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,038/mo, rent takes ~46% of Desert Hot Springs's median household income ($52,761/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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