Laquintadusk, 2006
La Quinta’s story
96 years in pictures
Census counts: 3,328 in 1980, 37,558 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 4 maps from 1941 on.
- 1930La Quinta is settled
La QuintaCA
A town of 39,440, settled in 1930.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: prayitno · CC BY 2.0
Population
39,440
2025 Census estimate · +4.5% since 2020
Typical home
$739K
+0.5% in a year
Household income
$99K
median
Median age
53.3
years
Jobs based here
11,429
Balanced
TownGrade
D
#566 of 841 in CA
Is La Quinta a good place to live?
La Quinta earns a D, 566th among California's 841 graded towns. One bright spot: it has 120 miles of trail. La Quinta’s July high is 107°F, above both the California town median (89°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F). La Quinta has 1 place on the National Register. Homes are expensive, about $739K for a typical one and 8.2 times the Riverside metro’s $90K median household income.
What makes La Quinta stand out
Where La Quinta beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Get outside
120 miles of trails in La Quinta
17.5% of the town is conserved land, across 16 parks and preserves.
3
Santa Rosa Wilderness1.4 mi of trails · 952 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How La Quinta grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far La Quinta is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.6 of 20; 4.1% of households have no carB+Open →SafetyCOpen →SchoolsC+Open →HealthJohn F Kennedy Memorial Hospital 5.2 miles awayBOpen →Jobs & income$99K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors18% conserved landAOpen →HistoryDOpen →Civic life2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market70 days on market–Open →Who lives here40% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to La Quinta: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in La Quinta, and how to reach them.
PowerImperial Irrigation District18.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCoachella Vwd: Cove Community water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have La Quinta’s trash rules yet
SchoolsDesert Sands Unified School DistrictCoachella Valley Unified School District2 districts serve La Quinta; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRiverside Registrar of VotersRiverside County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9225392253 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in La Quinta.
La Quinta is a second-home town, has more 90° days than nearly all U.S. towns and has home values still below their peak.
OutdoorsA
La Quinta has set aside 17.5% of its land for conservation
La Quinta’s trail density is 3.4 miles per square mile. Santa Rosa Wilderness, at 952 acres with 1.4 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
#58for trails in CA
17.5%
conserved · 3,986 of 22,764 acres
120 mi
of trails · 3.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument | 5.6 mi | 4,589 |
| 2. Cove Oasis | 2.1 mi | 449 |
| 3. Santa Rosa Wilderness | 1.4 mi | 952 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC+
La Quinta’s schools rank behind 58% of California districts
Its public schools are run by the Desert Sands Unified school district. Two of its 9 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is La Quinta High, with 2,425 students.
42%of CA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Quinta MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 709 | C− |
| La Quinta HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 2,425 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Inland flooding leads a very high hazard risk in La Quinta
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 85% of U.S. communities. Since 2004, 38 flood insurance claims have been paid out in La Quinta.
85risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakes
38
paid flood claims since 2004
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Older than California overall
27.7% of homes are seasonal or vacation homes, against 2.4% statewide, which helps explain the older median age.
People 65 and older are 32% of residents (16% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (24% statewide). The median age in La Quinta is 53.3 years. La Quinta has grown 4.5% since 2020, to 39,440 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
53.3median age · CA 37.9
| La Quinta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 32% | 16% | 18% |
| Median age | 53.3 years | 39 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 17% | 22% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 29% | 29% |
La QuintaCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school21%
Some college22%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s24%
Graduate16%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±1.8 points. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women.
| La Quinta | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.8% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.7% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.4% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.7% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.2% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 16.4% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.6% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 14% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.3% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.4% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 22% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.4% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.4% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.6% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
SafetyC
More crime per resident in La Quinta than in 68% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes fell from 1,015 to 745 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
Within California, it does better than 57% of towns.
32%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| La Quinta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.9 per 1,000 residents | 13.3 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.5 per 1,000 residents | 2.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
La Quinta1.5
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
La Quinta16.9
California18.2
U.S.15.5
32nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
57th
percentile among CA towns
62
violent crimes reported in 2025
683
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in La Quinta
The Indio Fire Stn weather station, 6 miles away, records that about 184 days a year reach 90°, more than in 100% of U.S. towns. January nights average 44.5°, milder than in 97% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 106.6°.
La Quinta has warm winters and scorching summers, with very little rain. Snow is almost unheard of.
107°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter45–71°
Spring59–87°
Summer77–105°
Fall62–90°
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
107°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most of La Quinta’s workers commute out: the town has 0.8 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave La Quinta for work: only 13% work in town. Jobs based in La Quinta grew to 11,429 in 2023, 1,377 more than in 2013. 18% of La Quinta workers work from home.
13%work in town
| La Quinta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 18% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 6.6% | 8% |
| Median household income | $99,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 28 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In La Quinta13%
Palm Desert13%
Indio9%
Palm Springs6%
Rancho Mirage5%
11 mi
median commute distance
11,429
jobs based in La Quinta
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 72% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB
La Quinta is healthier than 57% of U.S. towns
Against the 8,714 U.S. towns with household incomes like La Quinta’s, it is less healthy than 63%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
La Quinta beats the California average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 39% of adults have high blood pressure in La Quinta.
57%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| La Quinta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 31% | 35% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 17% | 17% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 77% | 72% | 79% |
32 measures vs. California
13 better11 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | La Quinta | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.9% | 17.9% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 11.8% | 14.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.8% | 6.4% |
John F Kennedy Memorial Hospital
5.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
45th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, La Quinta earns a D−
The typical value, about $739K, is 9% below its July 2022 peak.
The typical La Quinta home is worth about $739,000, up 0.5% in a year, close to the California typical home.
$739KZillow home value
| La Quinta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,785 a month | $1,898 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 76% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
La Quinta$739K
California$762K
Market temperature
70
days on market
96.5%
sale-to-list price
+0.5%
value change, 1 year
83
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Nearby attractions
All 36 attractions →Salton Sea and 18 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around La Quinta. Close and well known come first.
Big draw32 mi LakeSalton Sea
Big draw15 mi National ParkJoshua Tree National Park2.9M visitors a year
11 mi Stadium & arenaAcrisure Arena
27 mi MountainSan Jacinto Peak
27 mi State parkAnza-Borrego Desert State Park16 mi LandmarkForest Lawn CemeterySources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Salton Sea: NASA, Public domain · Joshua Tree National Park: Sergiy Galyonkin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Acrisure Arena: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0 · San Jacinto Peak: Wattewyl, CC BY 3.0 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: No machine-readable author provided. Miskatonic assumed (based on copyright clai, CC BY 2.5
Keep exploring
Everything we know about La Quinta
19pages on La Quinta
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 58% of CA districts · 9 schoolsSafetyC1.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than CA on 13 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$739K typical home · up 0.5% in a yearWork & commuteB−$99K median household income · 11,429 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 85% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of La Quinta
College of the DesertCommunity college · Public · Palm Desert9.4 mi$1,326 in-state tuitionCalifornia Indian Nations CollegeCommunity college · Public · Palm Desert10.6 mi$7,743 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 La Quinta residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About La Quinta
City in California, United States
La Quinta (Spanish for "the country estate") is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States. Located between Indian Wells and Indio, it is one of the nine cities of the Coachella Valley. The population was 37,558 at the 2020 census, up from 37,467 at the 2010 census. Golf courses include La Quinta Resort and Club, a resort dating to 1926, where director Frank Capra wrote the screenplay for Lost Horizon, and SilverRock Golf Resort, which hosts the annual Bob Hope Chrysler Classic PGA golf tournament.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 135 ft
- ZIP code
- 92247, 92248, 92253
- Area code
- 60
La Quinta’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with La Quinta.
IndioIndian WellsBermuda DunesVista Santa RosaLa Quinta
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Quinta | #566 | D | D− | C | C+ | B |
| Indio | #577 | D | D | C+ | B | C |
| Indian Wells | #213 | B− | C− | C+ | B | B+ |
| Bermuda Dunes | #433 | C | D | — | B | B |
| Vista Santa Rosa | — | — | C | — | C− | C− |
Vista Santa Rosa has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Bermuda Dunes and Vista Santa Rosa report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare La Quinta with a neighbor →
Questions about La Quinta
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is La Quinta, CA a good place to live?
La Quinta grades D overall, better than 14% of U.S. towns and #566 of 841 in California. It grades B for health, C for safety and C+ for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is La Quinta, CA safe?
Within California, it does better than 57% of towns.
Is La Quinta, CA expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.