Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Palmdale, CA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

164,634

Median Agei

Race & Ethnicityi

Hispanic/Latino

63.5%104,593

White

15.5%25,478

Black

12.8%21,015

Asian

4.6%7,618

Two or More

2.5%4,122

Other

0.7%1,102

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.4%601

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%105

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3.5%3,577

High School Diploma

26.8%27,053

Some College (<1 yr)

7.4%7,474

Some College (1+ yr)

14.7%14,816

Associate's Degree

7.7%7,831

Bachelor's Degree

11.7%11,796

Master's Degree

4.4%4,475

Professional Degree

0.6%579

Doctorate

0.4%420

HS or Higher

77.2%

BA or Higher

17.1%

Graduate+

5.4%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$471,000

Median Renti

$1,802

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

66.2%30,701

Renter-Occupied

33.8%15,672

Total Units

48,467

Homeownership

66.2%

Vacancy Rate

4.3%

Home Values

Under $50K

2.9%888

$50K–$100K

2.4%725

$100K–$150K

1.4%418

$150K–$200K

1.3%414

$200K–$300K

4.6%1,416

$300K–$500K

45.7%14,043

$500K–$1M

40.3%12,379

$1M+

1.4%418

Rent Distribution

Under $500

329

$500–$750

346

$750–$1,000

903

$1,000–$1,250

1,185

$1,250–$1,500

2,225

$1,500–$2,000

4,108

$2,000+

5,839

Year Built

2020 or later

0.5%248

2010–2019

4.1%1,967

2000–2009

20.7%10,034

1990–1999

22.3%10,798

1980–1989

33%15,978

1970–1979

8%3,874

1960–1969

3.9%1,880

1950–1959

5.2%2,512

1940–1949

1.4%687

1939 or earlier

1%489

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

78.6%36,462

Electricity

17.4%8,054

Bottled/LP Gas

1.4%633

Solar

1.1%500

No Fuel

0.8%348

Wood

0.7%302

Other

0.1%40

Fuel Oil

0.1%34

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$81,770

Mean Household Incomei

$102,237

Per Capita Incomei

$29,441

Poverty Ratei

15.6%

Unemploymenti

8.3%

Labor Forcei

74,564

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

4.8%2,249

$10K–$15K

3.2%1,465

$15K–$20K

2.3%1,046

$20K–$25K

2.9%1,363

$25K–$30K

3.1%1,417

$30K–$35K

2.7%1,274

$35K–$40K

4.3%1,988

$40K–$45K

4%1,850

$45K–$50K

2.7%1,232

$50K–$60K

6.6%3,064

$60K–$75K

9.6%4,474

$75K–$100K

14.7%6,802

$100K–$125K

9.5%4,401

$125K–$150K

8.9%4,110

$150K–$200K

10.6%4,930

$200K+

10.2%4,708

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

2,892

Residentsi

7,874

Avg. Tenant Renti

$658/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

30 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers2,327 homes90% occupied$696/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8565 homes91% occupied$502/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $81,770/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $25K/yr

87.4%

Very low income$25K–$41K/yr

10.8%

Low income$41K–$65K/yr

1.8%

Who Receives This Housing

81.8% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

89% of subsidized households are minority

19.9% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

24.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

41,80025.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

20,907

Guatemala

2,559

Philippines

2,473

Korea

260

India

258

Germany

175

United Kingdom

137

Canada

124

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

66,400

Avg. Commutei

39.9 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

68,267

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

4,847(4.2% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

91.8%Insured

8.2%Uninsured