What’s It Like to Live in Palm Springs?

 
People from all over the globe come to live in Palm Springs, California. Some only live in Palm Springs part of the year, while others decide to go for year-round living — even during the summers.

Many residents first came to Palm Springs on vacation (or to visit friends and relatives) and then fell in love with the desert and its easy lifestyle.
 
 
For those who are wondering what it’s like to actually live in Palm Springs, I created this simple overview:

3 Things You Need to Know About Living in Palm Springs

1. Palm Springs is Less Expensive

For what you’re getting — a warm-weather large town with a higher quality of life — Palm Springs offers more living, for less cost. For example, real estate is particularly affordable right now. Still, this is California, so on-average the cost of living is higher than it would be in a small town in the Midwest, but certainly less than places like New York or Boston, and over 8% less than the California average.

Downside: You still need a car to live in Palm Springs. Even though there’s a good bus transit system, Palm Springs does not have light rail or subway trains, and the Coachella Valley is kind of spread out.

Downside: Air-conditioning bills in the summer can get pricey.
 

2. Palm Springs is Diverse

One of the things I enjoy most about Palm Springs is the diversity of its people. There is a vibrant gay community, and people from all kinds of religious and ethnic backgrounds. Liberals and conservatives both reside here happily with one another.

Downside: Economically, Palm Springs is not as diverse as it could be. The main industry is, as you might expect, tourism. The technology and manufacturing sectors could be stronger.
 

3. Palm Springs is Active and Casual

The weather makes Palm Springs an excellent place to live. Swimming, hiking, fitness studios, outdoor runs and, of course, tennis and golf are all passionately participated in, though perhaps the most popular activity is: walking. Most neighborhoods in Palm Springs are very walkable, and it’s common to see people out for their evening walk as the sun starts to set behind the mountains, and even more common to see folks out for a morning walk before it gets too warm.

Palm Springs has a dynamic extreme-health community, too — doctors, life-extension celebrities, and enthusiastic citizens who are interested in longevity and living the best, healthiest life possible.

What makes this all enjoyable is the low humidity. 100-degrees may sound like a lot to you, but if it’s very dry, it feels quite comfortable.

Because of the weather, there’s not a lot of formality in dress in Palm Springs. Even typically traditional industries such as banking tend to dress a bit more casually in their offices than they might in other large towns. Palm Springs has a more relaxed vibe.

Downside: The month of August is usually intensely hot, so people generally try to stay indoors as much as they can during that month.

Downside: Not everyone thinks the desert is beautiful. It takes a certain type of person to appreciate the serene, simple landscapes of a desert. There are no beaches in Palm Springs (though plenty of golf lakes and swimming pools)!
 
Here are some photos that I’ve taken recently on my walks.

The truth is that Palm Springs is an insiders’ town
and so many of the newest and most enjoyable events and activities
are not things you would typically discover during day-to-day living.
 
To keep abreast of all the best things to do in Palm Springs,
and the latest news and community information,
visit estatehomesPalmSprings.com regularly,
or if you have specific questions about Palm Springs real estate,
call us at 760-902-2277.

 
Another Lifestyle Feature You Might Enjoy:
Relocation: Boomers Seek Diversity and Higher Quality of Life