Palmdale, California

📍 👥 Pop. 166,895 🏠 ZIP 93550
58
/100
ReloCompare™
Median Income
$78,414
per household/year
Home Value
$397,500
median
Rent
$1,625
per month
Unemployment
5.5%
vs 3.7% national
Air Quality
12
Good
Internet
N/A
Mbps max • No fiber

📋 Living in Palmdale, CA — Overview

Mild Summers High Disaster Risk Clean Air

Palmdale, California scores 58/100 on ReloCompare™, with notable strengths and some areas that may give relocators pause. With 166,895 residents, it's a mid-size city that balances urban amenities with a more manageable pace of life. With a price-to-income ratio of 5.1x, housing affordability is a concern — buyers may need dual incomes or significant savings. Winters are harsh with lows averaging 3°F — budget for heating costs and winter clothing. Natural disaster risk is elevated — FEMA has declared 54 disasters here in the past 20 years. Insurance costs may reflect this risk.

📉 Unemployment above national average — research your industry before relocating
⚠️ High disaster zone — 54 federal declarations in 20 years

Score Breakdown

💰 Affordability
45
Home Value: $397,500
Rent: $1,625/mo
Electricity: ¢/kWh
💼 Job Market
35
Unemployment: 5.5%
Median Income: $78,414
Job Growth: % YoY
🌡️ Climate
40
Summer High: 9.6°F
Winter Low: 3.3°F
Sunny Days: /year
🌿 Environment
100
Air Quality: AQI 12 (Good)
Toxic Sites: 0 in area
Water: No violations ✓
🌐 Infrastructure
55
Internet: N/A Mbps
Fiber: Not available
Solar: kWh/m²/day
⚠️ Natural Risks
95
Disasters (20yr): 54
Flood Zone: None
Earthquake: Low
🌿 Environment Analysis: Air quality in Palmdale is excellent with a current AQI of 12 — well within EPA's "Good" range, ideal for outdoor exercise and those with respiratory sensitivities.
⚠️ Safety Analysis: With 54 federal disaster declarations in 20 years, natural disaster risk in Palmdale is elevated. Budget for comprehensive insurance and consider flood zone status.
💰 Affordability Analysis: Housing affordability is a challenge in Palmdale, where the price-to-income ratio reaches 5.1x. With 25% of median income going to rent, dual-income households or higher-paying careers may be necessary for comfortable living.
📊 See Full City Rankings →

Palmdale Weather & Climate Overview

Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon
Mon

Annual precipitation: 0.1" • Sunny days: /year • Source: NOAA Climate Normals

🚚 Planning to Move to Palmdale?

Compare quotes from top-rated moving companies and save up to 40%

Get Free Moving Quotes →

🎯 What Makes Palmdale Stand Out

Palmdale's strongest attributes are environment and safety, where it outperforms many comparable cities. Areas where Palmdale faces challenges include climate and job market — factors to weigh against its strengths when making your decision. Overall, Palmdale may be the best fit for safety-conscious retirees.


Fatal error: Uncaught TypeError: render_city_compare_widget(): Argument #2 ($all_cities_json) must be of type array, string given, called in /www/wwwroot/relocompare.com/templates/city.php on line 640 and defined in /www/wwwroot/relocompare.com/includes/ux.php:30 Stack trace: #0 /www/wwwroot/relocompare.com/templates/city.php(640): render_city_compare_widget() #1 /www/wwwroot/relocompare.com/public/index.php(49): include('...') #2 {main} thrown in /www/wwwroot/relocompare.com/includes/ux.php on line 30